# NTSB ERA22FA036: Vans RV4, N479JJ, Chattahoochee, FL, October 31, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report - Date: October 31, 2021, 13:20 local (17:20 UTC) - Place: Chattahoochee, FL - Coordinates: 30.649152, -84.7231 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6492&lon=-84.7231&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: Lycoming, FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 104184 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22FA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104184/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104184 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22FA036 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to properly secure the canopy before takeoff, allowing the canopy to open and then separate in flight, which resulted in the pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Windows-windshield system: flight compartment windows](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035610): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Jewell Jacob L RV 4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035610/cases.md?model=05610RT), [All aircraft, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035610/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Jewell Jacob L RV 4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=05610RT), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Jewell Jacob L RV 4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05610RT), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080); cases with it: [Jewell Jacob L RV 4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md?model=05610RT), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338); cases with it: [Jewell Jacob L RV 4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=05610RT), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Jewell Jacob L RV 4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05610RT), [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: [Jewell Jacob L RV 4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05610RT), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed the airport for a cross country flight. Shortly after departure, radar services were terminated by air traffic control and the pilot was cleared for a radio frequency change. Seventeen minutes later, radar contact was lost. Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast data obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration revealed the airplane climbed to about 2,500 ft mean sea level and made a few turns to the north and northeast before heading northwest. The airplane began to lose groundspeed, turned to the left and descended, then gained groundspeed as it continued to descend. The last data track showed the airplane at 650 ft and a groundspeed of 172 knots. A witness was outside at his house when the canopy from the airplane fell in his yard. The canopy was about 1.5 miles away from the main wreckage. The accident site was in a wooded area and the wreckage path was about 550 ft long. The airplane was heavily fragmented and scattered along a debris path. The canopy handle was found in the open position with the looking pin damaged and bent at its tip. It is likely that the canopy was not locked correctly before takeoff and that it opened in flight and departed the airplane. The airplane then made a gradual slow left descending turn and continued to gain airspeed until it contacted trees and the ground at a high rate of speed. Based on the available evidence, it could not be determined if the canopy contacted and incapacitated the pilot when it separated from the airplane, which then resulted in a loss of control. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 31, 2021, about 1320 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Vans RV-4, N479JJ, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Chattahoochee, Florida. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot departed Tallahassee International Airport (TLH), Tallahassee, Florida, about 1303 destined for Monroe County Aeroplex Airport (MVC), Monroeville, Alabama. After departure, an air traffic controller terminated radar services and approved the pilot to change radio frequencies. About 17 minutes later, radar contact was lost. According to automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the airplane climbed northbound to about 3,000 ft mean sea level (msl) after departure, then it turned right about 90° to the east, then back to the north. The airplane descended to about 2,500 ft and overflew Lake Jackson then headed westbound before turning northwest bound. The airplane’s altitude varied between about 2,000 and 2,500 ft. As the airplane flew about .70 nautical miles southwest of Mount Pleasant, it began to lose groundspeed and began turning left and descending, then gaining groundspeed while continuing to descend. Radar contact with the airplane was lost about 17 minutes after takeoff. The last data track showed the airplane at 650 ft and a groundspeed of 172 knots. An off-duty law enforcement officer was doing yardwork at his house when the airplane’s bubble-style canopy fell in his yard (the airplane was equipped with a buddle-style canopy that was hinged on the side). The canopy was about 1.5 miles away from the main wreckage. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The accident site was in a wooded area and the wreckage path was about 550 ft long. The airplane was heavily fragmented and scattered along a debris path on a heading of about 220° magnetic. The outboard portion of the right wing, including the aileron, was separated and found in the vicinity of an initial tree strike. Small pieces of sheet metal, wheel pants, pieces of the carburetor, fuel tank wing sections and stringers were located along the wreckage path for about 400 ft. The empennage was leaning against a tree with impression marks about 15 ft up the tree. The inboard section of the left wing was found about 500 ft along the wreckage path. The fuel tank was breached, and the left wing was fire damaged. The engine, propeller, pieces of the landing gear, and parts of the instrument panel were located at the end of the wreckage path. Both propeller blades were impact separated. The canopy was impact damaged and the frame was bent in several areas. The canopy handle was found in the open position with the locking pin damaged and bent at its tip. The locking mechanism on the canopy could not be tested. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION Toxicology testing performed by the FAA’s ForensicServices Laboratory did not reveal any evidence of alcohol or other impairing drugs. An autopsy was performed on the pilot by the Office of the Office of the Medical Examiner, District Two, Tallahassee, Florida. The report listed the cause of death as blunt traumatic injuries. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N479JJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N479JJ-2022-10-13), registration cancelled 2022-10-13, S/N 79, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VANS RV4 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Jewell Jacob L RV 4](https://openairdocs.org/model/jewell-jacob-l-rv-4) (registry code 05610RT) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-E2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-e2a) (registry code 42120, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 79 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 648 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 8, 2021 - Departed: TLH, Tallahassee, FL - Destination: MVC, Monroeville, AL - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 725 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,300 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: TLH, 25 nm away - METAR: KTLH 311753Z 30005KT 10SM BKN033 18/10 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP162 T01830100 10189 20139 58011 ## 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 20211031018269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211031018269A), Oct 31, 2021: Jewell Jacob L RV 4, Chattahoochee, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On October 31, 2021, at approximately 1329 EDT, N479JJ, [privacy data omitted], crash landed into a heavily wooded area in Chattahoochee, FL, gadsden county,… ## Docket (10 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 5, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104184. 12.6 MB in all. - Excerpts from maintenance records (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13977180&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20logbooks_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Automatic dependent surveillance - broadcast (ADS-B) data plot (item 2, JPG, 515 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13925084&FileExtension=JPG&FileName=flight%20path-Rel.JPG - ADS-B data (item 3, CSV, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16121364&FileExtension=csv&FileName=ERA22FA036%20-%20OV%20Track%20Data-Rel.csv - Wreckage plot (item 4, JPG, 587 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13925547&FileExtension=JPG&FileName=wreckage%20path-Rel.JPG - Canopy location on flight track and wreckage plot (item 5, JPG, 397 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13925094&FileExtension=JPG&FileName=wreckage%20with%20canopy%20location-Rel.JPG - Investigative photos (item 6, PDF, 5 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13976703&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photo%27s-Rel.pdf - Canopy pictures (item 7, PDF, 5 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13982171&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Canopy-Rel.pdf - Wreckage examination summary (item 8, PDF, 4 pages, 183 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16120445&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Examination%20Summry-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13925152&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=TOX1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage (item 10, PDF, 1 page, 190 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14054789&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N479JJ%20NTSB%20Wreckage%20Release%20Form%20Signed%2006%2008%2022_Redacted-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.