# NTSB LAX93LA351: R&K Special 01, N115R, Reno, NV, September 14, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 14, 1993, 10:55 local (17:55 UTC) - Place: Reno, NV - Coordinates: 39.710788, -119.819519 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7108&lon=-119.8195&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report August 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28474 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA351 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28474/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA351 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO AN UNDETERMINED ENCOUNTER WITH AN UNFAVORABLE WIND/AIR CONDITION IN THE FORM OF A DUST DEVIL, WINDSHEAR, OR WAKE TURBULENCE FROM A PREVIOUS LAP. A RELATED FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE LOW ALTITUDE AT THE TIME OF THE ENCOUNTER, WHICH LIMITED THE TIME AVAILABLE FOR THE PILOT TO CORRECT THE LOSS OF CONTROL. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - weather condition - unfavorable wind - wake turbulence - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS FLYING HIS HOMEBUILT EXPERIMENTAL BIPLANE ON THE SMALL (3 MILE) RACE COURSE AT THE RENO NATIONAL AIR RACES. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT AFTER MAKING SEVERAL LAPS AT A HIGHER ALTITUDE, A DESCENT WAS MADE TO THE SAME ALTITUDE THAT PREVIOUS PILOTS HAD USE TO QUALIFY. THE AIRPLANE HAD 'ROUNDED' THE PYLONS & WAS FLYING DOWN THE EAST STRAIGHTAWAY, WHEN WITNESSES 'OBSERVED A SLIGHT ROLL, A ROLL CORRECTION AND IMMEDIATE PITCH DOWN . . .' ANOTHER WITNESS SAID 'PILOT WAGGLED WINGS AND PORPOISED TWICE, SECOND PORPOISE INTO GROUND.' THE PILOT SAID HE WAS FLYING WINGS LEVEL, FROM AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET, WHEN THERE WAS A SLIGHT LEFT WING DROP FOLLOWED BY A SEVERE PITCH DOWN. HE CORRECTED BY LEVELING THE WINGS & 'LOCKING' THE STICK IN A PITCH UP POSITION, BUT REPORTEDLY, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND TAIL FIRST. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE MAY HAVE ENCOUNTERED SEVERE WINDSHEAR OR A WHIRLWIND. WAKE TURBULENCE FROM A PREVIOUS LAP WAS NEITHER RULED OUT NOR VERIFIED. ## Factual narrative On September 14, 1993, about 1055 hours Pacific daylight time, a homebuilt experimental R and K Special airplane, N115R, collided with terrain while on a timing run at the Reno National Air Races, Reno, Nevada. The airplane was destroyed and the commercial rated pilot received serious injuries. The pilot stated that he made a slight roll correction prior to the airplane pitching down and contacting the ground. Crew witnesses stated that: "Racer number 6 was the last biplane flying in the practice/qualification session. The pilot made several laps at a higher altitude. He then descended to what appeared to be the same altitude the previous biplanes had used to qualify. As the pilot approached the start/finish line, they observed a slight roll, a roll correction, and an immediate pitch down at about 20 degrees with wings level to ground impact." The pilot reported that witnesses told him that the airplane hit the ground tail first. He also stated that information provided by other race pilots indicated that the airplane encountered a severe windshear/whirlwind. The aircraft was examined by an FAA airworthiness inspector who reported that no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were evident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N115R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N115R-2013-11-12), registration cancelled 2013-11-12, S/N 1, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: R&K SPECIAL 01 - Registry model: [Hugo R&K SPECIAL](https://openairdocs.org/model/hugo-r-k-special) (registry code 05611FC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Airframe hours: 146 - Engines: Lycoming O-290-G 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robert L. Hugo - Registered owner: Robert L. Hugo - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 6, 1993, 1 hours before - Departed: 4SD - Destination: 4SD - Airport: 4SD, Reno Stead ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 5,500 total, 142 in this make and model, 5,410 as pilot in command, 86 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: 4SD, 1 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 19930914034359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930914034359A), Sep 14, 1993: Reno, NV, Destroyed. During low level high speed pass lost control and hit ground tail first. Windshear beleived a factor. ## Other investigations on N115R (1) 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. - [NTSB SEA73FYE12](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA73FYE12), Sep 2, 1972: Hugo R & K Spcl (N115R), Puyallup, WA, destroyed 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.