# NTSB MIA00LA130: Scott Vans RV-4, N123SC, Natchez, MS, April 12, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 12, 2000, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Natchez, MS - Coordinates: 31.539337, -91.37957 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.5393&lon=-91.3796&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48940 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00LA130 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48940/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA130 ## Probable cause an inadvertent stall at too low altitude to allow recovery. Factors in this accident were fog and low ceilings. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot told investigators that he and his friend were originally en route to Lakeland, Florida, when his airplane developed engine problems. He landed and over the next 3 days the engine was repaired. When his friend returned they both departed for Texas. They did not filed a flight plan, nor was a weather briefing obtained. About 105 nautical miles into the flight, they encountered fog and low ceilings. They performed a 180 degree turn and reversed directions. The pilot of N123SC, stated he lost control of the aircraft as he began his turn behind the lead aircraft. He tried to regain control of the airplane, but all control inputs failed to control the aircraft. The next thing he saw, was the trees and ground coming up towards him. Examination of the wreckage revealed, the control stick was actuated fore and aft, left and right with positive input to all control surfaces that were still intact on the aircraft. It was the opinion of the FAA inspector, '...that weather, fog, low ceilings, lack of instrumentation and the pilot flying in marginally VFR to IFR weather without an instrument rating, possibly contributed to a loss of control, secondarily to some buffeting by the lead aircraft, and then possibly an accelerated stall. The reported weather at Natchez-Adams Airport (HEZ), located about 15 miles west of the crash site was: lowest ceiling: 200 overcast, visibility: 2 1/2 miles, temperature 63 degrees F, dew point: 63 degrees F, wind from 020 degrees, at 6 knots, and the altimeter 30.16 inHg. ## Factual narrative On April 12, 2000, about 1015 central standard time, a homebuilt Scott Vans RV-4, N123SC, owned by a private individual impacted with trees while turning to reverse direction near Natchez, Mississippi. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was destroyed. The private-rated pilot reported minor injuries. The flight had originated from Stennis International Airport, Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, at 0810. The pilot told investigators that he saw clouds and rain in his flight path. He was in trail of another aircraft, and both were en route to Fort Worth, Texas. The first aircraft performed a 180-degree turn and the pilot of N123SC, followed. As he made the left turn following the other aircraft, "...my aircraft flipped over to almost an inverted attitude. The controls felt mushy, after I leveled the aircraft...the nose was pointing almost straight down, I cycled pitch several times with no aircraft pitch change." The next thing he knew the ground was coming up, and the airplane struck trees. According to the FAA inspector's statement, an examination of the wreckage after the accident revealed, "...the control stick was actuated fore and aft, left and right with positive input to all control surfaces that were still intact on the aircraft." The FAA inspector met with the pilot at the hospital, and according to the inspector's statement, the pilot of N123SC and his friend were originally en route to Lakeland, Florida, his airplane developed engine problems. He landed and over the next 3 days the engine was repaired. When his friend returned they both departed for Texas. The inspector said, "...a flight plan was not filed, nor was a weather briefing obtained...after about 105 nautical miles of flight, fog and lowered ceilings were encountered where they responded with a 180 degree turn and reversed directions...[the] pilot of N123SC, stated he lost control of the aircraft as he began his turn behind the lead aircraft...he tried to regain control of the aircraft, but all control inputs failed to control the aircraft. The next thing he saw, was the trees and ground coming up towards him." The FAA inspector further said, "...it is my opinion that weather, fog, low ceilings, lack of instrumentation and the pilot flying in marginally VFR to IFR weather without an instrument rating, possibly contributed to a loss of control, secondarily to some buffeting by the lead aircraft, and then possibly an accelerated stall. At 1015, the reported weather at Natchez-Adams Airport (HEZ), located about 15 miles west of the crash site was: lowest ceiling: 200 overcast, visibility: 2 1/2 miles, temperature 63 degrees F, dew point: 63 degrees F, wind from 020 degrees, at 6 knots, and the altimeter 30.16 inHg. ## Aircraft - Registration: N123SC (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: SCOTT VANS RV-4 - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 4563 - Airframe hours: 55 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Shawn C. Scott - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: HSA, BAY SAINT LOUIS, MS - Destination: HEZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 683 total, 250 in this make and model, 641 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 6 knots - Visibility: 2.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 200 ft overcast - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: HEZ, 15 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 20000412004679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000412004679A), Apr 12, 2000: Amtr VANSRV4, Natchez, MS, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated he was flying wing on right side, weather, fog caused both a/c to turn around to the left, stated he believes he got in lead a/c p rop wash… 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.