# NTSB CHI04CA115: Villeneuve RV-3, N12JV, Mayetta, KS, May 8, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 8, 2004, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Mayetta, KS - Coordinates: 39.348888, -95.692779 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3489&lon=-95.6928&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Wichita FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59237 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04CA115 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59237/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04CA115 ## Probable cause The pilot failed to maintain airspeed and aircraft control during final approach, which resulted in a stall/mush flight condition. A factor to the accident was the crosswind and the trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - remedial action - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane impacted trees while on final approach. The pilot reported that when he was on final approach, approximately 100-200 feet above ground level, the airplane "suddenly and abruptly rolled approximately 30 degrees right and then left while the nose maintained the same pitch attitude." The pilot stated he was able to level the wings, however, the "controls felt abnormally mushy." The pilot also reported that the "rate of descent also suddenly increased to a dangerous level." The pilot stated he added full engine power, but the aircraft kept descending. The pilot reported, "Given the mushy controls and rate of descent I was afraid to pull up too much and risk a stall. The aircraft was already at a nose high angle of attack... It already felt like it was on the edge of a stall. [The] aircraft continued to feel unstable with a dangerously high sink rate." The pilot reported the airplane was unable to "build up enough speed to break out of wind currents before contacting trees." The pilot reported that the winds were from the south at 15 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The pilot stated the wind conditions were at his "upper personal limitations" and that he had previously landed in similar conditions. Surface wind data was collected from nearby weather observation facilities. The collected wind data indicated the winds at the time of the accident were from the south-southwest, between 9 and 18 knots. ## Factual narrative On May 8, 2004, at 1230 central daylight time, an amateur-built Villeneuve RV-3, N12JV, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during an in-flight collision with trees while on final approach to a private east/west airstrip (1,800 feet by 50 feet, dry turf) near Mayetta, Kansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from the Phillip Billard Municipal Airport (TOP), Topeka, Kansas, at 1200 and was landing at the time of the accident. According to the pilot's written statement, he obtained weather information from the TOP automatic terminal information service (ATIS) and the winds were reported to be from the south at 15 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The pilot reported that the wind conditions were at his "upper personal limitations" and that he had previously landed in similar conditions. The pilot stated that after flying over the private airstrip he decided the winds favored a landing to the east. The pilot reported that when he was on final approach, approximately 100-200 feet above ground level (agl), the airplane "suddenly and abruptly rolled approximately 30 degrees right and then left while the nose maintained the same pitch attitude." The pilot stated he was able to level the wings, however, the "controls felt abnormally mushy." The pilot also reported that the "rate of descent also suddenly increased to a dangerous level." The pilot stated he added full engine power, but the aircraft kept descending. The pilot reported, "Given the mushy controls and rate of descent I was afraid to pull up too much and risk a stall. The aircraft was already at a nose high angle of attack... It already felt like it was on the edge of a stall. [The] aircraft continued to feel unstable with a dangerously high sink rate." The pilot reported the airplane was unable to "build up enough speed to break out of wind currents before contacting trees." Surface wind data was collected from a nearby weather observation facility. The collected wind data, along with the location of the facility was: Topeka, Kansas (TOP) (17 nm, 165 degrees magnetic) 1153: Wind 180 @ 9 knots, gusting 18 knots 1253: Wind 200 @ 11 knots ## Aircraft - Registration: [N12JV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N12JV), registered now, S/N 88, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Villeneuve RV-3 - Registry model: [Villeneuve RV-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/villeneuve-rv-3) (registry code 0560874) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 88 - Airframe hours: 309 - Engines: Lycoming O-290-D2 135 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Not Limited - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 4, 2003, 79 hours before - Departed: TOP, Topeka, KS - Destination: PVT, Mayetta, KS - Airport: PVT, Private Airstrip, runway 090, 1,800 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review March 30, 2003; seat: center; flight hours: 486 total, 58 in this make and model, 455 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: TOP, 17 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 20040508022109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040508022109A), May 8, 2004: Amtr RV3, Mayetta, KS, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot states he experienced a loss of lift resulting in a stall while on approach to his Private landing field in winds estimated at 15 knots gusting to… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.