ERA12LA100

NTSB accident investigation · Sigmon Harvey E Vans RV 6 · Abingdon, VA · November 6, 2011

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
November 6, 2011, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
Place
Abingdon, VA
Injuries
2 uninjured
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N62HSSigmon Harvey E Vans RV 6N177CDAviat S-2C
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report July 18, 2012
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Eastern Region Aviation
Parties
FAA/FSDO
Case key
82463

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The failure of the Pitts pilot to see and avoid the RV-6 that had landed ahead. Contributing to the accident was the Pitts pilot's inability to hear the RV-6 pilot's radio calls due to the lack of a radio in the Pitts.

The failure of the Pitts pilot to see and avoid the RV-6 that had landed ahead. Contributing to the accident was the Pitts pilot's inability to hear the RV-6 pilot's radio calls due to the lack of a radio in the Pitts.

Findings · 4

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

N62HS · Sigmon Harvey E Vans RV 6

Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraftPersonnel issues › Psychological · Pilot of other aircraftSigmon Harvey E VANS RV 6: 1 caseAll aircraft: 231 casesProbable cause
Communication system: vHF/HF radioEnvironmental issues › Operating environment · Not specifiedSigmon Harvey E VANS RV 6: 1 caseAll aircraft: 6 casesProbable cause

N177CD · Aviat S-2C

Communication system: vHF/HF radioEnvironmental issues › Operating environment · Not specifiedAviat S-2C: 1 caseAll aircraft: 6 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The RV-6 was equipped with a radio and the Pitts S-2C was not. Both airplanes were in the airport traffic pattern after completing a local flight, and the pilots were flying a visual approach to runway 24. The pilot of the RV-6 flew a tighter traffic pattern and made radio calls. The pilot of the Pitts flew a wider traffic pattern and did not see the RV-6 ahead and below. As the airplanes landed nearly simultaneously on runway 24, the propeller of the Pitts contacted and partially separated the empennage of the RV-6. The recorded weather at the airport about the time of the accident included clear skies, visibility of 10 miles, and wind from 260 degrees at 4 knots.

The RV-6 was equipped with a radio and the Pitts S-2C was not. Both airplanes were in the airport traffic pattern after completing a local flight, and the pilots were flying a visual approach to runway 24. The pilot of the RV-6 flew a tighter traffic pattern and made radio calls. The pilot of the Pitts flew a wider traffic pattern and did not see the RV-6 ahead and below. As the airplanes landed nearly simultaneously on runway 24, the propeller of the Pitts contacted and partially separated the empennage of the RV-6. The recorded weather at the airport, about the time of the accident, included clear skies, visibility of 10 miles, and wind from 260 degrees at 4 knots.

Factual narrative

On November 6, 2011, about 1500 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur-built RV-6, N62HS, and an Aviat S-2C (Pitts) collided while landing at Virginia Highlands Airport (VJI), Abingdon, Virginia. The RV-6 was substantially damaged and the Pitts sustained minor damage. The certificated private pilot onboard the RV-6 and the certificated airline transport pilot onboard the Pitts were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plans were filed for the local flights. The personal flights were conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector interviewed both pilots. They reported that the RV-6 was equipped with a radio and the Pitts was not. Both airplanes were in the airport traffic pattern after completing a local flight, and the pilots were flying a visual approach to runway 24. The pilot of the RV-6 flew a "tighter" traffic pattern and made radio calls. The pilot of the Pitts flew a wider traffic pattern and did not see the RV-6 ahead and below. As the airplanes landed nearly simultaneously on runway 24, the propeller of the Pitts contacted and partially separated the empennage of the RV-6. The FAA inspector added that the pilots did not report the accident and he learned about it during routine surveillance of the airport. The accident was reported to the NTSB on December 5, 2011. According to their written reports, the pilot of the RV-6 stated that during landing rollout, the Pitts landed in to the rear of his airplane. The pilot of the Pitts stated that during landing rollout, as his airplane decelerated normally to 10 to 15 mph, he felt a bump, heard the propeller hit something, and shut the engine down. The recorded weather at VJI, at 1455, included clear skies, visibility 10 miles, and wind from 260 degrees at 4 knots.

On November 6, 2011, about 1500 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur-built RV-6, N62HS, and an Aviat S-2C (Pitts) collided while landing at Virginia Highlands Airport (VJI), Abingdon, Virginia. The RV-6 was substantially damaged and the Pitts sustained minor damage. The certificated private pilot onboard the RV-6 and the certificated airline transport pilot onboard the Pitts were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plans were filed for the local flights. The personal flights were conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector interviewed both pilots. They reported that the RV-6 was equipped with a radio and the Pitts was not. Both airplanes were in the airport traffic pattern after completing a local flight, and the pilots were flying a visual approach to runway 24. The pilot of the RV-6 flew a "tighter" traffic pattern and made radio calls. The pilot of the Pitts flew a wider traffic pattern and did not see the RV-6 ahead and below. As the airplanes landed nearly simultaneously on runway 24, the propeller of the Pitts contacted and partially separated the empennage of the RV-6. The FAA inspector added that the pilots did not report the accident and he learned about it during routine surveillance of the airport. The accident was reported to the NTSB on December 5, 2011. According to their written reports, the pilot of the RV-6 stated that during landing rollout, the Pitts landed in to the rear of his airplane. The pilot of the Pitts stated that during landing rollout, as his airplane decelerated normally to 10 to 15 mph, he felt a bump, heard the propeller hit something, and shut the engine down. The recorded weather at VJI, at 1455, included clear skies, visibility 10 miles, and wind from 260 degrees at 4 knots.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N62HS
Reported as
Sigmon Harvey E Vans RV 6
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
20198
Airframe hours
1,080
Engine
Lycoming IO-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Seats Frank R
Registered owner
Seats Frank R
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Condition · June 1, 2011 · 42 hours before
Departed
VJI · Abingdon, VA
Destination
VJI · Abingdon, VA
Airport
VJI · Virginia Highlands, runway 24, 4,471 × 75 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Registration
N177CD
Reported as
Aviat S-2C
Category
Airplane
Serial number
6069
Airframe hours
400
Engine
Lycoming AEIO-540, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
White John R
Registered owner
White John R
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Utility
Last inspection
Annual · March 20, 2011 · 100 hours before
Departed
VJI · Abingdon, VA
Destination
VJI · Abingdon, VA
Airport
VJI · Virginia Highlands, runway 24, 4,471 × 75 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N62HS
Age
70
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
February 14, 2011
Seat
Left
Flight hours
2,460 total · 120 in this make and model · 24 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot, aircraft N177CD
Age
59
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial, Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
March 5, 2011
Seat
Rear
Flight hours
29,000 total · 350 in this make and model · 24,000 as pilot in command · 140 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
260° at 4 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
63 °F, dew point 34 °F
Altimeter
30.32 inHg
Observed at
VJI

Docket · 4

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 5, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.1 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 2

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.