- Date
- July 28, 2017, 12:17 local (16:17 UTC)
- Place
- Poughkeepsie, NY
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N9214Thomas J Hankamp VAN'S Aircraft RV4
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 14, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20170728012699A
- Case key
- 95784
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during a "taxi test" in crosswind conditions, he overcorrected, and the airplane ground looped. Subsequently, the airplane exited the runway to the right and came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system on the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 320° at 5 knots. The pilot was departing from runway 06. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that, throughout many conversations with the pilot, the initial statement was that the pilot lost control during takeoff and did have intent for flight. The FAA inspector verified this after talking with the local tower, who had cleared the airplane for takeoff.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during a "taxi test" in crosswind conditions, he over corrected and ground looped. Subsequently, the airplane exited the runway to the right and came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system on the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 320° at 5 knots. The pilot was departing on runway 06. The Federal Aviation Administration Inspector reported that, throughout many conversations with the pilot, the initial statement was that the pilot lost control during takeoff and did have intent for flight. The FAA Inspector verified this after talking with the local tower, who had cleared the airplane for takeoff.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9214
- Reported as
- Thomas J Hankamp VAN'S Aircraft RV4 (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 538
- Built
- 2016
- Airframe hours
- 8
- Engine
- Subaru EJ25, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Unknown · October 20, 2016
- Departed
- POU · Poughkeepsie, NY
- Airport
- POU · Hudson Valley Rgnl, runway 06, 5,001 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Satellite tracking device
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 79
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 5, 2015
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 650 total · 5 in this make and model · 534 as pilot in command · 9.6 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 9,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.86 inHg
- Observed at
- KPOU
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 19, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.