# NTSB ERA20LA188: Vaughn Challenger, N97KV, Clarksville, TN, May 16, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 16, 2020, 09:20 local (14:20 UTC) - Place: Clarksville, TN - Coordinates: 36.494445, -87.321945 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4944&lon=-87.3219&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: 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 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 101299 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20LA188 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101299/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101299 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA188 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to carburetor ice. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Vaughn James Keith CHALLENGER SPECIAL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=056040F), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Vaughn James Keith CHALLENGER SPECIAL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=056040F), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Vaughn James Keith CHALLENGER SPECIAL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=056040F), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot performed the descent, the approach, aligned his airplane with the runway and flew the length of the runway at a power setting of approximately “70 percent.” At the completion of the low pass and a few seconds into the climb, the pilot noticed a “lack of climb performance with full power applied” and performed a forced landing to trees. The pilot stated there was nothing wrong with the performance and handling of the airplane prior to initiating the climb. Atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to “serious icing at glide power.” Following the accident, the airplane’s engine, which was not equipped with carburetor heat, was successfully run on the airframe with no anomalies noted that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On May 19, 2020, at 0920 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Challenger Special, N97KV, was involved in an accident near Titan Field (TN23), Clarksville, Tennessee. The pilot and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector, the pilot provided a written statement and discussed the accident with him. The pilot stated that he completed a 30-minute local flight and returned to TN23 for landing. He described the descent and the arrival over the river that ran perpendicular to the approach end of the landing runway, which had ponds bordering both sides at the departure end. The pilot said he planned a "tight" base turn and then a low approach down the turf runway to alert fisherman along runway's edge. The pilot performed the descent, the approach, aligned his airplane with the runway and flew the length of the runway at a power setting of approximately "70 percent." At the completion of the low pass, and "2-3 seconds into the climb" the pilot said he noticed a "lack of climb performance with full power applied." The pilot initially turned to avoid powerlines and trees at the departure end of the field but selected the trees as his forced landing site. When asked about the performance and handling of the airplane, the pilot said "Everything was fine until …" he increased throttle for the climb. The airplane was powered by a Rotax 503 50-horsepower engine that was not equipped with carburetor heat. At 0956, the temperature recorded at Fort Campbell Army Airfield (KHOP) was 25°C (77°F), and the dew point was 20°C (68°F). Interpolation of an carburetor icing probability chart contained in FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35 revealed that atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to "serious icing at glide power." After the accident, continuity of the flight control system was confirmed by the FAA aviation safety inspector, and a successful post-accident engine run was performed on the airframe with no anomalies noted that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N97KV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N97KV-2021-09-04), registration cancelled 2021-09-04, S/N CH20297CW1548, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VAUGHN Challenger (Special) - Registry model: [Vaughn James Keith CHALLENGER SPECIAL](https://openairdocs.org/model/vaughn-james-keith-challenger-special) (registry code 056040F) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CH20297CW1548 - Year built: 1997 - Airframe hours: 319 - Engines: Rotax 503 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 30, 2019 - Departed: TN23, Clarksville, TN - Destination: TN23, Clarksville, TN - Airport: TN23, Titan Field, runway 13, 2,200 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; seat: left; flight hours: 2,017 total, 2 in this make and model, 32 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KHOP ## 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 20200516011229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200516011229A), May 16, 2020: Vaughn James Keith CHALLENGER SPECIAL, Clarksville, TN, Substantial damage. 8:30 Am in the morning, departed TN23 titan field. They flew the challenger airplane for approximately 30 minutes then decided to come in for a landing. They… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 9, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101299. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 memo for record (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9774563&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Memorandum%20for%20Record-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9772160&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9773043&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspection%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record FAA inspector (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9774182&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-03%20MFR%20FAA%20Inspector_ERA20LA188-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 692 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9772943&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20Array-Rel.pdf - FAA SAIB CE-09-35 (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13985945&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CE-09-35-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. --- 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.