# NTSB GAA19CA499: Vans RV7, N566WV, Ocracoke, NC, August 19, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 19, 2019, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Ocracoke, NC - Coordinates: 35.101112, -75.965835 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1011&lon=-75.9658&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100097 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA499 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100097/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100097 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA499 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain lateral control during an attempted aborted landing, which resulted in impact with trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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: [Sawyer Allen W RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=056260B), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Sawyer Allen W RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056260B), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Sawyer Allen W RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=056260B), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Sawyer Allen W RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=056260B), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Sawyer Allen W RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=056260B), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Sawyer Allen W RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056260B), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the first approach to land, the airplane was high, and he chose to abort the landing. During the second approach, the airplane was again high, and he used a forward slip to descend. Upon crossing the runway threshold, he realized the airplane was drifting left of the runway. He again aborted the landing and applied full power. However, the airplane pitched up, continued to drift left, and impacted trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, the left and right wings, and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, during the first approach to land, the airplane was high, and he aborted the landing. During the second approach, the airplane was again high, and he used a forward slip to descend. Upon crossing the runway threshold, he realized the airplane was drifting left of the runway. He again aborted the landing and applied full power. The airplane pitched up, continued to drift left and impacted trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, left and right wings and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An airport's automated weather observation station located 19 miles to the north east, reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 230° at 6 knots. The pilot was landing the airplane on runway 6. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N566WV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N566WV-2026-02-03), registration cancelled 2026-02-03, S/N 72604, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Vans RV7 (A) - Registry model: [Sawyer Allen W RV-7A](https://openairdocs.org/model/sawyer-allen-w-rv-7a) (registry code 056260B) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-B1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-b1d) (registry code 41859, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 72604 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 912.3 - Engines: Superior XP-IO-B1AD3 185 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 9, 2019 - Departed: FFA, Kill Devil Hills, NC - Destination: W95, Ocracoke, NC - Airport: W95, Ocracoke Island, runway 06, 2,998 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 17, 2018; seat: right; flight hours: 3,846 total, 912 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 6 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KHSE, 19 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 20190819017839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190819017839A), Aug 19, 2019: Sawyer Allen W RV-7A, Ocracoke, NC, Substantial damage. On August 19, 2019 at 1:56 pm local, pilot in command ^allen Sawyer^ stated that after landing on runway 6 at Ocracoke Island Airport (W95) in Ocracoke north… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 18, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100097. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476877&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 250 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476878&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.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.