# NTSB FTW03LA049: Girard RV-4, N5246, Homer, LA, November 25, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 25, 2002, 07:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Homer, LA - Coordinates: 32.796112, -93.006942 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7961&lon=-93.0069&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56112 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56112/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA049 ## Probable cause The pilot's VFR flight into IMC conditions and his failure to obtain/maintain altitude/clearance from trees during the initial climb after takeoff. Contributing factors were fog and trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not obtained/maintained (cause) - flight into known adverse weather - continued (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - initiated, pilot in command (cause) - In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb ## Analysis The non-instrument rated private pilot took off from the airport in instrument meteorological conditions for a cross country flight. Witnesses close to the accident site reported that very thick fog was in the area at the time of the accident. The witnesses heard the aircraft depart from the runway and make a right turn. A few minutes later, the engine was heard to "sputter," then "race up in rpm" followed by the sound of the impact with trees. The wreckage was located just north of the departure end of the runway in a marsh area that surrounded the airport. The initial impact was with trees approximately 30 feet in height. The airplane came to rest nose down in approximately 3 feet of water and was destroyed from the cabin forward. The airport guide notes that approximate 60 foot trees are located about 205 feet off both ends of the runway thresholds and about 195 to 200 feet from runway centerline. ## Factual narrative On November 25, 2002, approximately 0730 central standard time, a Girard RV-4 single-engine experimental airplane, N5246, was destroyed after an in-flight collision with trees shortly after takeoff from Homer Municipal Airport, Homer, Louisiana. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The non-instrument rated private pilot and his passenger sustained fatal injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from the Homer Municipal Airport, about ten minutes prior to the accident and was destined for the pilot's private airstrip near Beaux Bridge, Louisiana. Witnesses close to the accident site reported that "very thick fog had rolled in about 6:30." The aircraft departed from runway 30. After takeoff the airplane made a right turn paralleling the departure runway. The witnesses heard the engine "sputter", then "race up in rpm" followed by the sound of the impact. The wreckage was located north of the departure end of runway 30 in a marsh area that surrounded the airport. The initial impact was with trees approximately 30 feet in height. The airplane came to rest nose down in approximately 3 feet of water. The FAA inspector who responded to the accident site reported that the airplane was destroyed from the cabin area forward. At 0721, the weather reporting facility located at the Shreveport Downtown Airport (DTN), Shreveport, Louisiana, (located 47 miles southwest of the accident site) issued a special weather report, which reported wind 300 degrees at 4 knots, visibility 1/2 statute mile, fog, ceiling 200 feet overcast, temperature 11 degrees C, dew point 11 degrees C, and an altimeter of 30.12 inches of Mercury. At 0714, the weather reporting facility located at the Monroe Regional Airport (MLU), Monroe, Louisiana, (located 55 miles southeast of the accident site) issued a special weather report, which reported winds calm, visibility 2 1/2 statute miles, mist, few clouds at 100 feet, temperature 6 degrees C, dew point 6 degrees C, and an altimeter of 30.14 inches of Mercury. Homer Municipal Airport is an uncontrolled airport at an elevation of 244 feet mean sea level. Asphalt runway 12/30 is 3,199 feet in length and 60 feet wide. The airport guide indicates approximate 60 foot in height trees are located about 205 feet off both ends of the runway thresholds and about 195 to 200 feet from runway centerline. Post-Mortem examination performed on the pilot by Forensic Pathologists, Inc., Bossier City, LA, reported that the pilot's cause of death was a result of multiple severe injuries. Toxicological samples were sent to the Federal Aviation Administration Civil Aeromedical Institute, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for analysis. The results of the analysis were negative. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5246](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5246-2003-06-16), registration cancelled 2003-06-16, S/N 282, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Girard RV-4 - Registry model: [Girard Gerald L RV-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/girard-gerald-l-rv-4) (registry code 05613M3) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 282 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ray A. Bergeron - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 5F4, Homer, LA - Destination: Beaux Bridge, LA - Airport: 5F4, Homer Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 530 total ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 4 knots - Visibility: 0.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 200 ft overcast - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: SHV, 47 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 20021125031919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021125031919A), Nov 25, 2002: Amtr RV4, Homer, LA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. (-23) The RV-4 aircraft took-off to the northwest on runway 30 from the homver municipal airport with heavy fog present. Shortly after lift-off the aircraft… 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.