# NTSB NYC97LA050: Berry Vans RV-4, N42BN, York, PA, February 2, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 2, 1997, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: York, PA - Coordinates: 40.000389, -76.839431 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0004&lon=-76.8394&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 31, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39324 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA050 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39324/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA050 ## Probable cause the pilot's delay in initiating a go-around, and his failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush and contact with the terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr) - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot/owner of a homebuilt Vans RV-4 airplane flew to his destination airport. He stated that he entered the down wind traffic pattern for landing, and observed an airplane on the taxiway, short of the runway. When he turned from base to final approach, the airplane on the ground taxied onto the runway. The RV-4 pilot elected to do 'S' turns to give the airplane on the runway time to depart, but it remained on the runway, so the RV-4 pilot initiated a go-around. Power was applied, and the wings were leveled, but the airplane continued to descend and contacted the ground. The airplane was damaged during ground contact, but it became airborne again and continued flying. The pilot then landed without further incident. ## Factual narrative On February 2, 1997, at 1030 eastern standard time, a homebuilt, Vans RV-4, N42BN, was substantially damaged when it struck the ground during a go-around at the York Airport (THV), York, Pennsylvania. The certificated commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at Westminster, Maryland, about 1000. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the pilot's written statement, he said that he entered the down wind traffic pattern for landing on runway 34, and observed an airplane on the taxiway, short of the runway. When the pilot turned his airplane from base to final approach, the airplane on the ground taxied onto the runway. He elected to do "S" turns to give the airplane on the runway time to depart, but airplane remained on the runway. The pilot also said: "...Prior to ground impact, I elected to wave off...power was applied...Upon rolling wings level...I felt a left slip and stick shaker...The aircraft began falling, rolling left impacting the ground..." The pilot further stated that during ground impact, full power was applied, and the airplane became airborne. The pilot continued the climb and then completed a successful landing at THV. The pilot stated that he encountered no malfunctions with the airframe or engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N42BN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N42BN-2004-05-14), registration cancelled 2004-05-14, S/N 2394, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Berry VANS RV-4 - Registry model: [Berry Timothy Lee VANS RV-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/berry-timothy-lee-vans-rv-4) (registry code 05630BR) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 2394 - Airframe hours: 38 - Engines: Lycoming 0320-E3D 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Timothy L. Berry - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 18, 1996, 38 hours before - Departed: W54, WESTMINSTER, MD - Destination: THV, PA - Airport: THV, York, runway 34, 5,188 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 10,000 total, 50 in this make and model, 9,500 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MDT, 20 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 19970202001029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970202001029A), Feb 2, 1997: Amtrvn VANSRV4, York, PA, Substantial damage. Attempted to land, left wingtip hit the runway, forcing plane to ground, attempted go aroun, plane pulled in front. 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.