# NTSB DEN02LA063: Rich RV-4, N3344E, Grand Junction, CO, June 30, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 30, 2002, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Grand Junction, CO - Coordinates: 39.025001, -108.716667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0250&lon=-108.7167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55092 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN02LA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55092/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55092 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA063 ## Probable cause the pilot failing to maintain aircraft control during the pull up maneuver. A factor relating to the accident was the inadvertent stall spin. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis A witness reported that the experimental homebuilt airplane initiated a sharp pull up with the right wing low after making a pass over the runway. The airplane went inverted with the left wing coming up and over. The airplane then "righted," descended, and impacted into the trees. The forward fuselage, engine, and cockpit were bent downward, broken open and crushed aft. Both wings showed aft crushing along the spans of the leading edge. The fuselage aft of the cockpit showed minor damage. The right horizontal stabilizer and elevator were bent upward and crushed aft. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On June 30, 2002, at 0830 mountain daylight time, a Rich RV-4, N3344E, piloted by a commercial pilot, was destroyed when the airplane departed controlled flight and impacted trees and terrain 8 miles west-southwest of Grand Junction, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot was fatally injured. The local flight was originating from a private airstrip at the time of the accident. A witness on the ground reported that the airplane took off behind another airplane on runway 05 at Pinyon Airstrip. The first airplane completed a farewell pass above runway 23 and was orbiting overhead. The witness said the accident airplane did a fly-by pass on a heading of 230 degrees. The witness said, "Near the west end of the runway, a sharp pull up was observed with the right wing low. It appeared the aircraft went inverted with the left wing coming up and over. Aircraft then righted, with a direction 90 degrees to the runway, descending and disappeared into the trees off the west end of the runway." The pilot in the first airplane said they both took off and then made a couple of passes over the airport to wave good-bye to their hosts. The lead pilot said he had finished his pass and was circling back on downwind when he saw the pilot's airplane hit the ground. An examination of the accident site revealed the airplane had impacted several pine trees before impacting the ground. The airplane's engine was broken downward at the mounts and firewall. One propeller blade was broken aft. The propeller blades showed torsional bending and chordwise scratches. The lower cowling and forward fuselage were bent downward and broken open. The cockpit area was bent downward and broken open rearward from the firewall aft to the rear cockpit wall. The Plexiglas canopy was broken out and fragmented. Both wings showed rearward crushing along the span of the leading edges. Both wing fuel tanks were broken open. The smell of fuel was prevalent at the accident site. The main landing gear were broken aft. The aft fuselage, vertical stabilizer and rudder, left horizontal stabilizer and left elevator showed minor damage. The right horizontal stabilizer and elevator were bent upward and crushed aft. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3344E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3344E-2013-09-19), registration cancelled 2013-09-19, S/N 2454, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Rich RV-4 - Registry model: [Rich Edwin D RV-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/rich-edwin-d-rv-4) (registry code 05622CH) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 2454 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael J. Davis - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: Grand Junction, CO - Airport: Pinyon Field, runway 050, 3,400 × 100 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: fatal; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 800 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: GJT, 8 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 20020630012739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020630012739A), Jun 30, 2002: Amtr RV4, Glade Park, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (.19) On June 30, 2002, at 0830 mountain daylight time, a rich RV-4, N3344E, piloted by a commercial pilot, was destroyed when on initial climb, the airplane… ## Other investigations on N3344E (1) 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. - [NTSB SEA94LA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA107), Apr 23, 1994: Rich RV-4 (N3344E), Weston, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT. FACTORS INCLUDE CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, AND NO SUITABLE SITE FOR A FORCED LANDING. ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 10, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55092. 1.0 MB in all. - Witness Statements (item 1, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40171988&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Master.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 2, .PDF, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448440&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Master.PDF - Miscellaneous Airplane Diagram & Specifications (item 3, .PDF, 133 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40171990&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%20Airplane%20Diagram%20%26%20Specifications-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Main wreckage, front view (item 4, .PDF, 259 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40171991&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Main%20wreckage,%20front%20view-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Main wreckage, left side view (item 5, .PDF, 274 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40171993&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Main%20wreckage,%20left%20side%20view-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Main wreckage, aft view (item 6, .PDF, 241 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40171994&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Main%20wreckage,%20aft%20view-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. --- 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.