# NTSB ERA20CA298: Vans RV6, N628JB, Milton, DE, August 27, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 27, 2020, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Milton, DE
- Coordinates: 38.810276, -75.237777 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8103&lon=-75.2378&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 101878
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA298
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101878/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101878
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA298

## Probable cause

The pilot and owner’s failure to adequately communicate and establish an understanding of who was flying the airplane, and their failure to take timely action to avoid a collision with terrain.

## Findings

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

- [Communication (personnel): lack of communication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bigler James E VANS RV6-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510/cases.md?model=05617DW), [All aircraft, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510/cases.md)
- [Communication (personnel): lack of communication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Owner/builder (probable cause); cases with it: [Bigler James E VANS RV6-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510/cases.md?model=05617DW), [All aircraft, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510/cases.md)
- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Owner/builder (probable cause); cases with it: [Bigler James E VANS RV6-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=05617DW), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)
- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bigler James E VANS RV6-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=05617DW), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Bigler James E VANS RV6-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=05617DW), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The purpose of the flight was for the pilots to calibrate a newly installed avionic equipment in the airplane. The owner of the airplane was seated in the airplane’s right seat, while the other pilot, who was acting as pilot-in-command for the flight was seated in the left seat. After takeoff, the pilot handed off controls to the owner and requested that the owner perform two 360° turns while he calibrated the equipment. After the two turns, the owner let go of the flight controls and the pilot manipulated the controls to demonstrate the functioning of the g-meter. Both the pilot and the owner believed the other was flying the airplane after this demonstration. After deciding that they would return to the departure airport, the airplane was flying low and almost impacted the ground twice. On both occasions, the pilot pulled up, then once again let go of the controls believing that the owner was flying the airplane. Both expressed discomfort with how the other was flying the airplane, but neither communicated their concerns to the other in a way that was understood, nor did either confirm who was flying the airplane. The third time the airplane neared terrain, the owner called for the pilot to pull up just as the pilot was about to take control of the airplane. The airplane then impacted a field, flipped over, and came to rest inverted. The fuselage, wings, and empennage of the airplane sustained substantial damage. Both the pilot and owner stated that there were no preimpact malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N628JB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N628JB-2020-12-09), registration cancelled 2020-12-09, S/N 23492, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Vans RV6 (A)
- Registry model: [Bigler James E VANS RV6-A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bigler-james-e-vans-rv6-a) (registry code 05617DW) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1a) (registry code 41594, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 23492
- Year built: 2004
- Airframe hours: 395
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, March 2, 2020
- Departed: DE25, Milton, DE
- Destination: DE25, Milton, DE
- Airport: DE25, Eagle Crest-Hudson
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; injuries: minor; private, sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 30, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 296 total, 79 in this make and model, 259 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days
- Pilot-rated passenger; age 55; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 31, 2018; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,140 total, 135 in this make and model, 2,020 as pilot in command, 15.1 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observed at: GED, 9 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 20200827012959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200827012959A), Aug 27, 2020: Bigler James E VANS RV6-A, Milton, DE, Destroyed. Aircraft departed eagles crest airport, DE25, at approximately 13:45 EST. Maneuvers performed over adjacent farmers fields, to test and calibrate recently…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 19, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101878. 14.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 20 pages, 9.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11366253&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20and%20Owner%206120s%20redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot interview summaries and statements (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11365469&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 3, PDF, 7 pages, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11366587&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA20CA298%20Photo%20Array-Rel.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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