# NTSB CEN12LA209: Walling Vans RV-3, N34WC, Larchwood, IA, March 28, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 28, 2012, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Larchwood, IA
- Coordinates: 43.451389, -96.40583 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4514&lon=-96.4058&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 15, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 83240
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA209
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83240/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83240
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA209

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane after landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Walling R A VANS RV-3A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=05608U6), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Walling R A VANS RV-3A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05608U6), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Walling R A VANS RV-3A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05608U6), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Walling R A VANS RV-3A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05608U6), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Walling R A VANS RV-3A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05608U6), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

After landing, the airplane veered off the right side of the runway into an adjacent corn field, where it nosed over and came to rest inverted. The canopy and vertical stabilizer were crushed. A toxicology screen revealed the presence of fluoxetine (Prozac, an antidepressant); norfluoxetine (a metabolite of fluoxetine); and trazodone (a tranquilizer). These drugs carry the warning that they may impair mental and/or physical ability required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks and are contraindicated for flight. On his most recent application for medical certification, the pilot did not report taking these medications. Although the presence of these medications and the conditions for which they were prescribed posed an increased hazard to flight safety, it could not be determined if the pilot was experiencing any side effects from the medications at the time of the accident. Postaccident examination revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

On March 28, 2012, about 1230 central daylight time, a Walling Vans RV-3, N34WC, collided with terrain shortly after landing on runway 30 at Zangger Vintage Airport (K2VA), Larchwood, Iowa. The private pilot, the sole occupant on board, was fatally injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight had originated from Marv Skie-Lincoln County Airport (KY14), Tea, South Dakota, about 1115. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who went to the site, the pilot had landed on runway 30, and the airplane went off the right side of the runway into an adjacent corn field. The airplane's main landing gear became mired in soft earth and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The canopy and vertical stabilizer were crushed. The pilot was strapped securely in his seat via a five-point restraint system. The pilot was a 57-year-old physician. He held a third class airman medical certificate, dated February 27, 2012, with no restrictions or limitations. On his application for medical certification, he did not report taking fluoxetine or trazodone. A toxicology screen performed by FAA’s Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) indicated 1.509 (ug/mL, ug/g) fluoxetine (Prozac) and 0.866 (ug/mL, ug/g) norfluoxetine were detected in Illiac blood. Fluoxetine and norfluoxetine were also detected in urine. In addition, Trazodone was detected in both Illiac blood and urine. According to CAMI's reference material, Fluoxetine is a prescription antidepressant and is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Its active metabolite is norfluoxetine. The FAA may issue a special issuance of a medical certificate for pilots on this medication after a thorough evaluation and ongoing close follow-up of the condition. Trazodone is a prescription antidepressant that selectively inhibits serotonin uptake. It is contradicted for flying. According to the CAMI's reference material, all reported substances carry the warning: "May impair mental and/or physical ability required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks (e.g., driving, operating heavy machinery)." According to previous medical certificate applications, the pilot did report a history of anxiety and situational depression while he was in medical school (1994), and he was treated for 12 months with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The condition was eventually resolved and the pilot was found eligible for medical certification in 1997.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N34WC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N34WC), registered now, S/N 811-4, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Walling Vans RV-3
- Registry model: [Walling R A VANS RV-3A](https://openairdocs.org/model/walling-r-a-vans-rv-3a) (registry code 05608U6) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 811-4
- Airframe hours: 591
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Robert A. Akins
- Registered owner: Robert A. Akins
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, February 24, 2012
- Departed: KY14, Tea, SD
- Destination: K2VA, Larchwood, IA
- Airport: K2VA, Zangger Vintage Airport, runway 30, 3,500 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; last flight review March 5, 2012; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 740 total, 2 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: KFSD, 22 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20120328003989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120328003989A), Mar 28, 2012: Vans Aircraft RV-3A, Larchwood, IA, Minor damage, 1 fatal. Airman had been conducting landings at tea, SD, and was having difficulty controlling the aircraft after landing. Flight instructor on the ground advised the…

## Docket (14 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 22, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83240. 780 KB in all.

- Record of Conversation with FAA Inspector (item 1, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374480&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF
- Excerpt from FAA's Forensic Toxicology Drug Information - Fluoxetine (item 2, .PDF, 18 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374468&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20from%20FAA%27s%20Forensic%20Toxicology%20Drug%20Information%20-%20Fluoxetine-Master.PDF
- Excerpt from FAA's Forensic Toxicology Drug Information - Norfluoxetine (item 3, .PDF, 18 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374469&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20from%20FAA%27s%20Forensic%20Toxicology%20Drug%20Information%20-%20Norfluoxetine-Master.PDF
- Excerpt from FAA's Forensic Toxicology Drug Information - Trazodone (item 4, .PDF, 18 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374470&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20from%20FAA%27s%20Forensic%20Toxicology%20Drug%20Information%20-%20Trazodone-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 - View to the north along Zangger Vintage Airport's runway 30. Note tire tracks (foreground) angling off to the right. (item 5, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366503&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20View%20to%20the%20north%20along%20Zangger%20Vintage%20Airport%27s%20runway%2030.%20Note%20tire%20tracks%20(foreground)%20angling%20off%20to%20the%20right.-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - Further up runway 30 with tire tracks angling off to the right. (item 6, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366504&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Further%20up%20runway%2030%20with%20tire%20tracks%20angling%20off%20to%20the%20right.-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 - Tire tracks angling off to the right are clearly visible. Airplane visible in front of sheriff's vehicle. (item 7, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366505&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Tire%20tracks%20angling%20off%20to%20the%20right%20are%20clearly%20visible.%20Airplane%20visible%20in%20front%20of%20sheriff%27s%20vehicle.-Master.PDF
- Photo 4 - Tire tracks make sharp right excursion off runway 30. (item 8, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366506&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20Tire%20tracks%20make%20sharp%20right%20excursion%20off%20runway%2030.-Master.PDF
- Photo 5 - Tire tracks enter corn field. (item 9, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366507&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%20-%20Tire%20tracks%20enter%20corn%20field.-Master.PDF
- Photo 6 - Tire tracks enter soft earth of corn field. (item 10, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366508&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206%20-%20Tire%20tracks%20enter%20soft%20earth%20of%20corn%20field.-Master.PDF
- Photo 7 - Ground scar left when airplane nosed over. (item 11, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366509&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%207%20-%20Ground%20scar%20left%20when%20airplane%20nosed%20over.-Master.PDF
- Photo 8 - Left side of airplane after being righted. (item 12, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366510&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%208%20-%20Left%20side%20of%20airplane%20after%20being%20righted.-Master.PDF
- Photo 9 - Right side of airplane after being righted. Note crushed vertical stabilzer and canopy. (item 13, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366511&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%209%20-%20Right%20side%20of%20airplane%20after%20being%20righted.%20Note%20crushed%20vertical%20stabilzer%20and%20canopy.-Master.PDF
- Photo 10 - Shattered propeller. (item 14, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366512&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2010%20-%20Shattered%20propeller.-Master.PDF

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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