SEA99LA110

NTSB accident investigation · Parks RV-6 · Hunters, WA · July 6, 1999

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 6, 1999, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC)
Place
Hunters, WA
Injuries
2 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N80274Parks RV-6
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 3, 2000
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19990706008549A
Case key
46771

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during an attempted go-around.

Analysis

The pilot reported that the aircraft bounced after touchdown on the grass airstrip. The pilot stated that he applied full power for a go-around, however, due to a nose high attitude and not enough airspeed, the aircraft stalled and the left wing dropped. The aircraft collided with the ground and came to rest prior to reaching the end of the airstrip.

Factual narrative

On July 6, 1999, approximately 1000 Pacific daylight time, the pilot of an experimental RV-6, N80274, lost control of the aircraft while landing on a private airstrip located about 15 miles north of Hunters, Washington. The private pilot and his passenger received minor injuries, and the aircraft, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, had departed from the private airstrip about 30 minutes prior to the accident. The flight was being operated in visual meteorological conditions and was not on a flight plan. There was no report of an ELT activation.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that the aircraft bounced after touching down on the grass airstrip. He then tried to execute a "full power go-around." But, according to the pilot, he was behind the power curve from holding the nose too high and not having sufficient airspeed. The pilot reported that as he attempted the go-around, the aircraft stalled and the left wing dropped. The aircraft collided with the ground and came to rest prior to reaching the end of the airstrip.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightLanding - aborted
Airspeed - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Stall - inadvertentPilot in commandCause

Aircraft

Registration
N80274
Reported as
Parks RV-6
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
23129
Airframe hours
115
Engine
Lycoming O-320-A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Richard A. Parks
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · March 11, 1999 · 12 hours before
Departed
WA
Airport
runway 4, 2,600 × 35 ft, grass/turf

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
70
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
3,000 total · 115 in this make and model · 3,000 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
45° at 5 knots
Visibility
50 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
70 °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.