# NTSB ERA24LA284: Corella Neil RV9A, N94NF, Saluda, SC, June 30, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 30, 2024, 10:13 local (14:13 UTC) - Place: Saluda, SC - Coordinates: 33.926793, -81.794628 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9268&lon=-81.7946&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - 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): 194579 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA284 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194579/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194579 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA284 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate glide path during the landing approach in variable wind conditions, which resulted in collision with trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Corella Neil RV9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05618YV), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Corella Neil RV9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=05618YV), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Corella Neil RV9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=05618YV), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Corella Neil RV9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=05618YV), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Corella Neil RV9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05618YV), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Corella Neil RV9A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05618YV), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was executing a forward slip to land. On short final approach to the runway, as the airplane descended below the tree line of a forest that was to his immediate right, he encountered a downdraft and crosswind. The airplane began to sink and yawed to the right. The pilot attempted to go around, but the landing gear struck the trees. The airplane continued to descend, and the right wing impacted a tree before the airplane came to rest upright in a nose down attitude at the base of two trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N94NF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N94NF-2025-05-05), registration cancelled 2025-05-05, S/N 90939, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CORELLA NEIL RV9A - Registry model: [Corella Neil RV9A](https://openairdocs.org/model/corella-neil-rv9a) (registry code 05618YV) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 90939 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 2131 - Engines: Penn Yann Aero XE320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Nature Coast Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 27, 2024 - Departed: 35A, Union, SC - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 6J4, Saluda County - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 30, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 2,372 total, 2,132 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: AIK, 18 nm away - METAR: KAIK 301355Z AUTO 25004KT 10SM CLR 30/24 A3011 RMK AO2 T02990239 ## 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 20240630009429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240630009429A), Jun 30, 2024: Corella Neil RV9A, Saluda, SC, Substantial damage. On June 30 2024 at approximately 1000 EST a RV-9A departed 35A. On short final to 6JA the PIC initiated the landing sequence and a forward slip. The aircraft… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194579. 3.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17527029&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - excerpt of pilot's written statement (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 265 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17532865&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20MOR%20-%20Excerpt%20of%20Pilot%27s%20Written%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 4 photos, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17526585&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos-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.