# NTSB NYC94LA133: Hoopes RV-6, N269RH, Farmingdale, NJ, July 19, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 19, 1994, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Farmingdale, NJ
- Location: 40.1868° N, 74.1246° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at MONMOUTH EXEC (BLM), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1868&lon=-74.1246&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 7, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38797
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA133
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38797/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA133

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION TO FLY AFTER DONATING BLOOD WHICH RESULTED IN HIS INCAPACITATION.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - incapacitation(loss of consciousness), pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment

## Analysis

DURING LANDING THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A DIRTBANK.  ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, 'UPON TOUCH DOWN, (HE) BLANKED OUT TO SEMI-CONSCIOUS AND COULD NOT CONTROL PLANE.' THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD DONATED BLOOD EARLIER IN THE DAY, WHICH IS WHAT HE BELIEVES IS THE REASON FOR THE SEMI-CONSCIOUSNESS. HE STATED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE WAITED 2 DAYS AFTER THE BLOOD DONATION, BEFORE PILOTING AN AIRCRAFT.

## Factual narrative

On July 19, 1994, about 1900 eastern daylight time, an experimental Hoopes RV-6, N269RH, piloted by Rae Hoopes, collided with the terrain during the landing at Farmingdale Airport, Farmingdale, New Jersey. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.  The flight was operated under 14 CFR 91.

According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot wrote that he donated blood the morning of the flight.  He further wrote, that the approach was normal, but "...upon touchdown, [he] blanked out to semi-conscious and could not control plane, which ran off runway to the left."

According to FAA inspector, Ray Fisher's written report, the airplane landed hard on the runway, and the pilot "lost directional control of the aircraft...and struck a pile of dirt." Mr. Fisher wrote that the pilot had received 3 hours of instruction in RV-6 aircraft, and commented, "...[that]hardly qualifies a pilot coming from a Cessna 172 to act [as] pilot-in- command of a RV-6."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N269RH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N269RH), registered now, S/N 20046, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HOOPES RV-6
- Registry model: [Hoopes Rae RV-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/hoopes-rae-rv-6) (registry code 05608ZG) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-C4F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-c4f) (registry code 41591, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 20046
- Airframe hours: 8
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4J 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Rae Hoopes
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Destination: BLM
- Airport: BLM, Belmar/Farmingdale, runway 14, 7,000 × 80 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 408 total, 6 in this make and model, 224 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 75 °F

## 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 19940719019619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940719019619A), Jul 19, 1994: Amtr RV6, Belmar/Farmingd, NJ, Substantial damage. Landed hard. Lost control. Struck dirt pile. Inadequate check out in type. Blamed blackout due blood donation.

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.

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