# NTSB SEA98LA008: Beckham RV-4, N160HB, Scio, OR, October 26, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 26, 1997, 15:50 local (23:50 UTC) - Place: Scio, OR - Coordinates: 44.679367, -122.759727 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6794&lon=-122.7597&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42730 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA98LA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42730/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA008 ## Probable cause The pilot-in-command's loss of control of the aircraft for undetermined reasons. ## Analysis The private pilot, whose third class medical had expired in August 1995, departed in an RV-4 experimental aircraft approximately 1530, and was observed by another pilot flying a Cessna 170 near the crash site about 20 minutes later. The eyewitness pilot 'noticed an RV aircraft coming up on my left side. I wagged my wings and he wagged his wings back. He then proceeded to pass me on my left, when he was approximately at my 11 o'clock (position), he executed a roll to the left. At the inverted stage of the roll the aircraft dove straight into the ground' (from an elevation of approximately 750 AGL). An FAA inspector examined the wreckage and reported that a control system check revealed no evidence of mechanical disconnect or malfunction. A deputy from the Linn County Sheriff's Office, who interviewed the pilot's wife, reported that she had told him that 'her husband has been have(ing) real bad migraine headaches that would leave him incapacitated.' She also told the deputy that 'he would blackout, and get tunnel vision' and that 'sometimes they (the migraines) would get so bad, he could not talk.' ## Factual narrative On October 26, 1997, approximately 1550 Pacific standard time, a Beckham RV-4 experimental aircraft, N160HB, being flown by a private pilot, was destroyed during an inflight collision with terrain following a loss of control while in cruise near Scio, Oregon. The pilot was fatally injured. There was no fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and originated from the pilot's private airstrip several miles northeast of the accident site approximately 1530. According to a pilot eyewitness flying a Cessna 170 near the accident site, he "noticed an RV aircraft coming up on my left side. I wagged my wings and he wagged his wings back. He then proceeded to pass me on my left, when he was approximately at my 11 o'clock (position), he executed a roll to the left. At the inverted stage of the roll the aircraft dove straight into the ground." The witness reported that he was headed southwest at the time and estimated the height of the accident aircraft at the beginning of the dive as approximately 750 feet above ground. He also reported that he observed nothing depart the accident aircraft during the roll and descent. The responding Linn County Sheriff's deputy reported that upon arrival at the crash site he noted that the wreckage debris field was confined to an area less than 50 yards in diameter and that the airframe had "telescoped" vertically into the ground. An FAA inspector examined the wreckage and reported that a control system check revealed no evidence of mechanical disconnect or malfunction (refer to photographs 1 through 4). The 64 year-old pilot's last Class III medical had been issued on August 2, 1993, and the exam revealed no medical problems. However, a deputy from the Linn County Sheriff's Office, who interviewed the pilot's wife, reported that she had told him that "her husband has been have(ing) real bad migraine headaches that would leave him incapacitated." She also told the deputy that "he would blackout, and get tunnel vision" and that "sometimes they (the migraines) would get so bad, he could not talk." Refer to Linn County Sheriff's Office Incident Report #97-16438. Toxicological evaluation of samples taken from the pilot revealed only contaminants characteristic of post-mortem alcohol production (refer to attached report). ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - aircraft control - not maintained (cause) - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - physiological condition, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Aircraft - Registration: [N160HB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N160HB-2021-07-31), registration cancelled 2021-07-31, S/N 554, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beckham RV-4 - Registry model: [Beckham Steve RV-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/beckham-steve-rv-4) (registry code 056088R) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 554 - Engines: Mazda GLIR-160 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Hatch, Everett, W. - Registered owner: Beckham, Stephen, L.. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 5OR8, STAYTON, OR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, expired; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,402 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SLE, 13 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 19971026039929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971026039929A), Oct 26, 1997: Amtr RV4, Scio, OR, Destroyed, 1 fatal. At cruise nosed up rolled over. Descended to impact vertically. Aged pilot sans medical possible incompacitation. (.4) the 64 year-old private pilot, whose… 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.