# NTSB NYC95LA176: Kenneth Savidge Vari Viggen, N93VV, Abingdon, VA, July 26, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 26, 1995, 09:48 local (13:48 UTC) - Place: Abingdon, VA - Coordinates: 36.770931, -82.030677 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7709&lon=-82.0307&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report February 27, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39017 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA176 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39017/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA176 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall. A contributing factor was the pilot's lack of experience in make and model. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - stall - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane took off, remained in the airport traffic pattern and had turned onto final approach. Without warning, at an altitude of approximately 200 to 300 feet above the ground, the airplane's right wing made two downward dips. The airplane then entered a nose down, right roll which continued until the airplane impacted the ground in an inverted attitude. Flight control continuity was not established because of extensive impact damage. At the time of the accident, the pilot had 1,369 total flight hours, and had accured 4.5 hours in this aircraft since it was certificated 10 months before the accident. ## Factual narrative On July 26, 1995, about 0948 eastern daylight time, a Vari Viggen, experimental, homebuilt airplane, N93VV, collided with the ground while maneuvering at a low altitude at the Virginia Highlands Airport, Abingdon, Virginia. The airplane was destroyed. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The local personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane took off, remained in the airport traffic pattern and had turned onto final approach. Without warning, at an altitude of approximately 200 to 300 feet above the ground, the airplane entered a roll to the right, and impacted the ground. According to the FAA, a video of this flight and accident showed the airplane from takeoff to final approach, for a planned "fly- by." The FAA Inspector viewed the video, and stated: After the aircraft turned onto final the right wing made two downward dips then the aircraft entered a nose down right roll. The aircraft continued the roll (nose down) until it impacted the ground at a very high speed...when the aircraft impacted the ground the right roll was about 235 degrees completed. The nose and left wing contacted the ground about the same time. Examination of the wreckage revealed the landing gear was in the up position. According to the FAA, flight control continuity was not established because of "extensive" impact damage. At the time of the accident, the pilot had 1,369 total flight hours, and 4.5 flight hours in this make and model airplane. The airplane had been certified on September 21, 1994, and the pilot had logged 4.5 flight hours in the airplane from the date of certification to the accident. The reported local weather was; 1,700 scattered, visibility 10 miles, temperature 79 degrees F, dew point 65 degrees F, wind 200 degrees, 4 knots, altimeter 30.09 inches Hg. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy was performed on the pilot, on July 27, 1995, at the Medical Examiner's Office, in Roanoke, Virginia, by Dr. David Oxley. Toxicological tests were conducted at the Division of Forensic Science, Commonwealth of Virginia, Roanoke, Virginia, and revealed, "no drugs or alcohol ." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N93VV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N93VV-1997-03-18), registration cancelled 1997-03-18, S/N 387 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: KENNETH SAVIDGE VARI VIGGEN (VARI VIGGE) - Registry model: [Savidge Kenneth VARI VIGGEN](https://openairdocs.org/model/savidge-kenneth-vari-viggen) (registry code 056905D) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 387 - Airframe hours: 7 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-TC 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kenneth Savidge - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: AAIP, September 21, 1994, 7 hours before - Departed: VJI - Airport: VJI, Virginia Highlands, runway 24, 4,470 × 75 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: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,369 total, 5 in this make and model, 1,305 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19950726019689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950726019689A), Jul 26, 1995: Amtr VARIVIGGEN, Abingdon, VA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Departed runway, returned, impacted the ground between taxiway and runway. (.4)the airplane took off, remained in the airport traffic pattern and had turned… 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.