# NTSB ERA10LA007: Case Richard L VAN RV-6, N455RC, Magnolia, NC, October 5, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 5, 2009, 12:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: Magnolia, NC - Coordinates: 34.890556, -78.051666 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8906&lon=-78.0517&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74852 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10LA007 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74852/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74852 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA007 ## Probable cause The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meterological conditions and his subsequent failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight evaluation of the weather. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Case Richard L VAN RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056214R), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: weather planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Case Richard L VAN RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md?model=056214R), [All aircraft, 156 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Case Richard L VAN RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=056214R), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Case Richard L VAN RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=056214R), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: below VFR minima](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035075): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Case Richard L VAN RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035075/cases.md?model=056214R), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035075/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401) (defining event); cases with it: [Case Richard L VAN RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md?model=056214R), [All aircraft, 392 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Case Richard L VAN RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=056214R), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Case Richard L VAN RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056214R), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The non-instrument-rated pilot was on a visual-flight-rules flight when he contacted air traffic control and stated that he was "in the thick of the weather." Air traffic control subsequently observed the airplane on radar at 1,500 feet, circling, before being lost off of radar. A witness reported that it was raining heavily when he noticed an airplane spinning out of the clouds toward the ground. The recorded weather near the accident site about the time of the accident included: winds from 020 degrees at 7 knots, visibility of 7 miles in light rain, with a ceiling of 300 feet broken, 2,500 feet broken, 7,000 feet overcast. According to Air Traffic Control Service personnel there were no records of any communication with the flight service station or entries made in the direct user access terminal system (DUATS) prior to pilot's flight. Examination of the aircraft structure, flight controls, systems, and engine by an FAA inspector showed no evidence of precrash failure or malfunction. ## Factual narrative On October 5, 2009, about 1250 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Case RV-6, N455RC, experienced the pilot’s loss of control in flight and collided with trees near Magnolia, North Carolina. The private pilot was killed and the airplane was substantially damaged. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight departed from the Wilmington International Airport (ILM), Wilmington, North Carolina at 1227; destined for Franklin County Airport (LHZ), Louisburg, North Carolina. According to personnel at the Wilmington, North Carolina air traffic control tower (ATCT), the pilot radioed in at 1232, and requested to divert to the west to stay clear of some rain. Wilmington ATCT acknowledged the request and advised the pilot to deviate as requested around the weather. At 1246, the pilot contacted personnel at Seymour Johnson Airforce approach control and advised that he was "in the thick of the weather." At 1248, Seymour Johnson Airforce approach control observed the airplane on radar at 1,500 feet, circling before being lost off of radar. According to a witness, he was looking out of his window when he saw the airplane spinning out of the clouds towards the ground. The witness added that as the airplane "spun," the engine made a sputtering noise before colliding with the ground. The witness also reported that it was raining heavily at the time of the accident. The pilot, age 62, held a private pilot certificate, with ratings for airplane single-engine land and sea. His certificate was issued on April 13, 2008. The pilot's most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third-class medical certificate was issued January 22, 2009, with limitations for corrective lenses. Review of the pilot's logbook revealed that he had 270 flight hours total time and 30 flight hours total time in the accident airplane. The two seat, low-wing, fixed gear airplane was manufactured in 2007. It was powered by a Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160-horsepower engine. Review of the aircraft logbook pages revealed that the last annual inspection was conducted on August 19, 2009, at a total time of 93 hours. The ILM 1248 weather observation reported: winds 020 at 7 knots, visibility 7 miles in light rain, ceiling 300 feet broken, 2,500 feet broken, 7,000 feet overcast, with rain and mist, temperature 17 degrees Celsius (C), dew point 16 degrees C, and altimeter setting of 30.07 inches of mercury. According to the FAA Air Traffic Control Service personnel there were no records of any communication with the flight service station (FSS) or entries made in the direct user access terminal system (DUATS) prior to pilot's flight. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane collided with heavy brush. Examination of the airframe and flightcontrol system components revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. Examination of the recovered engine and system components revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. The propeller blades displayed chordwise scoring across the leading edge and forward face. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, conducted the postmortem examination of the pilot on October 7, 2009. The reported cause of death was massive trauma with crush injury and multiple fractures. Forensic toxicology was performed on specimens from the pilot by the Federal Aviation Administration Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The toxicology report stated no ethanol was detected in the liver or muscle, and no drugs were detected in the liver. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N455RC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N455RC-2018-01-24), registration cancelled 2018-01-24, S/N 455, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CASE RICHARD L VAN RV-6 - Registry model: [Case Richard L VAN RV-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/case-richard-l-van-rv-6) (registry code 056214R) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-H2AD](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-h2ad) (registry code 42131, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 455 - Airframe hours: 93 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Hetzel Kenneth R - Registered owner: Hetzel Kenneth R - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 19, 2009 - Departed: ILM, Wilmington, NC - Destination: LHZ, Louisburg, NC - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 20, 2008; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 270 total, 30 in this make and model, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 7 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 300 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: ILM, 10 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 20091005050399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091005050399A), Oct 5, 2009: Case Richar VAN RV-6, Magnolia, NC, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft departed ilm at 1222 local time enroute to lhz. At 1246 aircraft contacted seymour johnson afb approach saying he was VFR at 2000'. The aircraft was… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 5, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74852. 3.8 MB in all. - Reports from Federal Agencies-FAA record of conversation (item 1, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323166&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies-FAA%20record%20of%20conversation-Master.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-Airplane logbook pages (item 2, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40322075&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-Airplane%20logbook%20pages-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies-ATC transcriptions N455RC (item 3, .PDF, 321 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323182&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies-ATC%20transcriptions%20N455RC-Redacted.PDF - Weather Report (item 4, .PDF, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325609&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 5, .PDF, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40322072&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo 1-FAA digital-Engine and propeller (item 6, .PDF, 185 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40322248&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-FAA%20digital-Engine%20and%20propeller-Master.PDF - Photo 2-FAA digital-Main wreckage (item 7, .PDF, 230 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40322249&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202-FAA%20digital-Main%20wreckage-Master.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-Kenneth Hetzel Plt Logs (item 8, .PDF, 726 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327567&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-Kenneth%20Hetzel%20Plt%20Logs-Redacted.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.