# NTSB FTW04LA189: Calhoun RV-4, N996NC, Latexo, TX, July 18, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 18, 2004, 13:51 local (18:51 UTC) - Place: Latexo, TX - Coordinates: 31.389999, -95.473052 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3900&lon=-95.4731&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 59672 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA189 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59672/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA189 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control and attain adequate airspeed resulting in a stall. Contributing factors were the pilot's diverted attention with closing the canopy, and the quartering crosswind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis A witness, standing near the approach end of runway 17 (a 2,500 feet long by 50 feet wide turf runway), stated that the 180-hour pilot went through his pre-flight checklist and began his take-off roll. The witness further stated that the tailwheel-equipped airplane veered off to the left and into some tall grass to the left of the runway. The airplane became airborne for a moment and then settled back down in a level attitude. The airplane again lifted off of the runway and it was at this point the witness noticed the pilot "trying to close" the canopy on the airplane. The airplane remained airborne at what appeared to be "just above stall speed." Subsequently, the airplane banked to the left and stalled. The witness lost sight of the airplane as it went down behind some trees, short of the departure end of runway 17 and "several hundred feet" to the left. Near the time of the accident, the closest weather reporting station reported winds from 330 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 14 knots, visibility 10 miles, sky scattered at 4,900 feet msl, temperature 35 degrees Celsius, dew point 17 degrees Celsius, and a barometric pressure of 29.94 inches of Mercury. ## Factual narrative On July 18, 2004, at 1351 central daylight time, a Calhoun RV-4 single-engine homebuilt airplane, N996NC, was destroyed when it impacted terrain following a loss of control after take-off from the Bruner Airport (8TS3), near Latexo, Texas. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. One witness, standing near the approach end of runway 17 (a 2,500 feet long by 50 feet wide turf runway), stated that the pilot went through his pre-flight checklist and began his take-off roll. The witness further stated that the tailwheel-equipped airplane veered off to the left and into some tall grass to the left of the runway. The airplane became airborne for a moment and then settled back down in a level attitude. The airplane again lifted off of the runway and it was at this point the witness noticed the pilot "trying to close" the canopy on the airplane. The airplane remained airborne at what appeared to be "just above stall speed." Subsequently, the airplane banked to the left and stalled. The witness lost sight of the airplane as it went down behind some trees, short of the departure end of runway 17 and "several hundred feet" to the left. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, stated that ground signatures and ground scars revealed that, after the airplane impacted the ground, the airplane "pivoted" on the left wing and traveled approximately 150 feet before coming to rest in the upright position, facing approximately 280 degrees. Examination by the FAA inspector revealed that the left wing was wrinkled and the left main spar was bent. The right wing was wrinkled. The left wing fuel tank exhibited signs that the fuel had spilled out, and the right wing fuel tank was leaking fuel. The fuselage was folded at the cockpit, and cocked to the left approximately 12 degrees. The private pilot held a private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land, and the most recently completed third class medical certificate was issued on May 2, 2003, with the limitation of "MUST HAVE GLASSES AVAILABLE FOR NEAR VISION." A review of the pilot's logbook revealed that he had accumulated a total of 180 hours in single-engine airplanes, with 25 being logged in the accident airplane. The automated surface observing system (PSN) at Palestine, Texas, located approximately 26 miles southeast of the accident site, reported winds from 330 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 14 knots, visibility 10 miles, sky scattered at 4,900 feet msl, temperature 35 degrees Celsius, dew point 17 degrees Celsius, and a barometric pressure of 29.94 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N996NC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N996NC-2006-06-29), registration cancelled 2006-06-29, S/N 1, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Calhoun RV-4 - Registry model: [Calhoun Ronald R RV4](https://openairdocs.org/model/calhoun-ronald-r-rv4) (registry code 05615MS) (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: 1 - Airframe hours: 25 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ronald R. Calhoun - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 10, 2004, 0.5 hours before - Departed: 8TS3, Latexo, TX - Airport: 8TS3, Bruner Airport, runway 17, 2,500 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 2, 2003; seat: front; flight hours: 180 total, 25 in this make and model, 124 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 10 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: PSN, 26 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 20040718016179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040718016179A), Jul 18, 2004: Amtr RV4, Latexo, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) On take off, aircraft drifted to left side of the runway and midway down the 2500 foot long by 50 foot wide grass runway, got left gear into unmown… 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.