# NTSB ERA22LA142: Vans RV-12IS, N123RR, Big Pine Key, FL, February 27, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 27, 2022, 09:58 local (14:58 UTC) - Place: Big Pine Key, FL - Coordinates: 24.9215, -81.5805 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=24.9215&lon=-81.5805&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: 2 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104722 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA142 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104722/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104722 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA142 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight and in-flight weather planning and his improper decision to continue visual flight rules flight into an area of limited visibility in moderate precipitation, which resulted in a loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: weather planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Vans RV-12IS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md?model=069002L), [All aircraft, 156 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Vans RV-12IS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=069002L), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Vans RV-12IS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025/cases.md?model=069002L), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Vans RV-12IS, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=069002L), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401); cases with it: [Vans RV-12IS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md?model=069002L), [All aircraft, 392 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Vans RV-12IS, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=069002L), [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: [Vans RV-12IS, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=069002L), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The sport pilot did not obtain a weather briefing before departing on a day visual flight rules cross-country flight over open water to an island airport along with a friend, who was flying a second airplane. The pilot of the second airplane reported that he had to descend from 6,500 ft mean sea level (msl) to 1,500 ft msl to remain below a broken cloud layer, diverted, and encouraged the accident pilot via radio several times to do the same. However, the accident pilot stated that he was descending from 6,500 ft msl to 4,500 ft msl and continuing to the original planned destination. No further communications were received from the accident pilot. Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data revealed that the airplane was in the vicinity of moderate precipitation, which had been forecast, when it entered a descending right spiral before the flight track ended. Only the airplane’s vertical stabilizer and the right portion of the horizontal stabilizer were recovered after the accident. The pilot received his sport pilot certificate about one month before the accident. At that time, he reported a total flight experience of 88 hours; of which, 24 hours were as pilot-in-command and 0 hours were instrument experience. Given the pilot’s limited overall experience and lack of instrument flight experience, it is likely that the pilot experienced spatial disorientation and lost control of the airplane after encountering limited visibility conditions in the moderate precipitation while flying over open water. ## Factual narrative On February 27, 2022, about 0958 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur-built Vans RV-12IS, N123RR, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident about 20 miles northwest of Big Pine Key, Florida. The sport pilot and passenger have not been located. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was reported overdue to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on February 28, 2022, after the sport pilot did not report to work. The vertical stabilizer and right horizontal stabilizer were located by the US Coast Guard on March 4, 2022. As of the publication of this report, no other sections of the airplane have been located. According to a friend of the sport pilot, who kept his airplane in an adjacent hangar, they planned to complete a flight of two to Key West, Florida (EYW). Prior to departure, the friend discussed using Everglades City, Florida (X01) in case they had to divert due to weather. Although they were cruising at 6,500 ft msl, the friend had to descend to 1,500 ft msl to remain below a broken cloud layer. He advised the sport pilot that he was diverting to Marathon, Florida (MTH) and encouraged him several times via radio to do the same; however, the sport pilot stated that he was descending from 6,500 ft msl to 4,500 ft msl and continuing to EYW. That was the last communication the friend received from the sport pilot. The friend added that the sport pilot usually checked weather via a ForeFlight app on his phone; however, review of flight service and ForeFlight records did not reveal any weather briefing for the accident flight. The sport pilot was not in radio contact with air traffic control at the time of the accident. Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data revealed that the airplane was in the vicinity of moderate precipitation, which was forecast, at the end of the data (for more information, see Meteorologist Specialist’s Factual Report in the public docket for this investigation). During the last mile of track data, the airplane entered a descending right spiral. The pilot and aircraft maintenance logbooks were not recovered. According to FAA records, the sport pilot received his pilot certificate on January 20, 2022. At that time, he reported a total flight experience of 88 hours; of which, 24 hours were as pilot-in-command and 0 hours were instrument experience. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N123RR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N123RR), registered now, S/N 121166, built 2020 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VANS AIRCRAFT INC RV-12IS - Registry model: [Vans RV-12IS](https://openairdocs.org/model/vans-rv-12is) (registry code 069002L) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912 IS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912-is-series) (registry code 55593, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 121166 - Year built: 2020 - Engines: Rotax 912 IS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas J Campana - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: LNA, West Palm Beach, FL - Destination: EYW, Key West, FL - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: fatal; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review January 20, 2022; flight hours: 88 total, 24 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 8 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: NQX, 24 nm away - METAR: KNQX 271453Z 01008KT 5SM -RA BR FEW025 BKN035 24/21 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP214 VIS W 2 1/2 P0012 60021 T02390211 51012 $ ## 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 20220227002989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220227002989A), Feb 27, 2022: Vans Aircraft Inc RV-12IS, Key West, FL, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Initial information indicates that the aircraft was being operated under part 91. Aircraft N123RR (2020, Vans RV-12IS) is [privacy data omitted]. Aircraft… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 20, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104722. 5.1 MB in all. - Interview summary (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13571752&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Interview%20Summary_Redacted-Rel.pdf - ADS-B plots (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13572087&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ADS-B%20Plots-Rel.pdf - Meteorology factual report (item 3, PDF, 31 pages, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14341401&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA22LA142%20-%20Big%20Pine%20Key,%20FL%20WX%20Factual-Rel.pdf - Meteorology attachment 1 - flight track (item 4, PDF, 466 pages, 993 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14342187&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%201%20-%20Flight%20Track%20data%20for%20N123RR-Rel.pdf - Meteorology attachment 2 - cwsu coorespondence (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 162 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14341226&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%202%20-%20CWSU%20statements%20regarding%20ERA22LA142%20-%20Big%20Pine%20Key,%20FL%20Aircraft%20Accident-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 341 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13571966&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%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. --- 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.