# NTSB SEA94LA184: Black RV-4, N144US, Twisp, WA, July 17, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 17, 1994, 11:20 local (18:20 UTC)
- Place: Twisp, WA
- Coordinates: 48.320381, -119.929946 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.3204&lon=-119.9299&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 2, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41979
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA184
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41979/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA184

## Probable cause

PROPER DESCENT RATE WAS NOT MAINTAINED DURING APPROACH.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT OF THE AMATEUR-BUILT EXPERIMENTAL BLACK RV-4 SAID THAT 'THE BOTTOM DROPPED OUT' WHEN HE WAS ON APPROACH FOR LANDING.  THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR AFTER A HARD LANDING, WITH ITS THROTTLE AND MIXTURE CONTROL JAMMED. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING THE HARD LANDING, TO ANOTHER AIRPORT AND SUCCESSFULLY LAND.

## Factual narrative

On July 17, 1994, approximately 1120 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Black RV-4, N144US, sustained substantial damage while landing at Twisp, Washington.  The private pilot, who owned the aircraft and was the sole occupant, was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.  No flight plan was filed for the flight from Methow Valley Airport, Winthrop, Washington.

The pilot, who built the aircraft and had approximately 800 hours in the aircraft, stated that on short final the "bottom dropped out," and the aircraft landed hard, bending the gear and engine mount, and buckled the firewall.  The wing was also damaged by impact with a fence post that was apparently near the runway threshold.  The pilot stated that the aircraft ended up back in the air.  He did not know if he pushed the throttle forward during the impact sequence, but he had a stuck throttle and mixture control.  He said that he flew the aircraft back to Methow Valley Airport and landed successfully.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N144US](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N144US-2006-01-25), registration cancelled 2006-01-25, S/N 742, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BLACK RV-4
- Registry model: [Black Kefton O RV-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/black-kefton-o-rv-4) (registry code 056081W) (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: 742
- Airframe hours: 732
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Kefton O. Black
- Registered owner: Kefton O. Black
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, October 27, 1993, 12 hours before
- Departed: S52, WINTHROP, WA
- Airport: 2S0, Twisp Municipal, runway 28, 2,700 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,020 total, 525 in this make and model, 934 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °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 19940717036959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940717036959A), Jul 17, 1994: Amtr RV4, Twisp, WA, Substantial damage. Wing hit fence post on final. Landed hard on runway. Bounced into air. Added power and flew back to base.

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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