# NTSB WPR19FA124: Vans RV 6, N90LK, Ridgefield, WA, April 29, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report - Date: April 29, 2019, 14:13 local (21:13 UTC) - Place: Ridgefield, WA - Coordinates: 45.789665, -122.69049 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7897&lon=-122.6905&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 99339 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19FA124 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99339/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99339 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19FA124 ## Probable cause The pilots' inadvertent exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack following an inflight collision with a bird. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Kays Milo Luther RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=05608GM), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Kays Milo Luther RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=05608GM), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Kays Milo Luther RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=05608GM), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Kays Milo Luther RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=05608GM), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Kays Milo Luther RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05608GM), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901); cases with it: [Kays Milo Luther RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=05608GM), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Kays Milo Luther RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05608GM), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Kays Milo Luther RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05608GM), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and flight instructor were conducting a local flight as part of a flight review. Radar data showed that the airplane departed and proceeded to a nearby airport, where it entered the traffic pattern. The last recorded radar target was located abeam the end of the runway, at an altitude of about 500 ft above ground level. There were no known witnesses to the accident sequence. The airplane came to rest upright, partially submerged within a pond, about 1,000 ft from the approach end of the runway. Wreckage and impact signatures from surrounding terrain were consistent with a near-vertical impact. Examination revealed no anomalies with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Bird remains were found on the right (outboard) arm/clothing of the flight instructor and within the engine compartment. The remains were identified as a species common to the accident locale. It is likely that a bird strike occurred while the airplane was maneuvering in the traffic pattern for landing, resulting in a breach of the canopy/windscreen. Given the lack of mechanical anomalies and the orientation of the wreckage, it is likely that the pilots became distracted and exceeded the airplane's critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and loss of control. ## Factual narrative On April 29, 2019, about 1413 Pacific daylight time, a Vans Aircraft RV-6 airplane, N90LK, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near La Center, Washington. The pilot and flight instructor were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. According to the pilot's wife, the purpose of the flight was to conduct the pilot's flight review, and he was scheduled to meet the instructor at the airport about 1330. The instructor’s daughter reported that it was common for him to fly to Daybreak Airport (WA46), La Center, Washington, for landing and takeoff practice. About 1515, a pilot landing at WA46 saw airplane wreckage in a pond located under the final approach path to runway 31. A review of radar data at about the time of the accident and in the area of WA46 located two targets. One was determined to be the accident airplane, and the other was that of the airplane that located and reported the wreckage. The first radar return with altitude data was recorded at 1404:33 at an altitude of 1,100 ft, about 1/2-mile northeast of Grove Field (1W1), Camas, Washington. The data showed that the airplane was on a northerly heading for about 11 miles before it turned west, directly toward W46. The data showed that the airplane flew parallel to the runway at WA46 at an altitude of 2,500 ft mean sea level (msl). As shown in figure 2, the airplane completed a descending 180° left turn and entered a left downwind for runway 31, where it leveled off at an altitude of about 500 ft above ground level (agl). The final radar target was captured at 1413:42 and depicted the airplane nearly abeam the runway 31 threshold, about 500 ft agl. Figure 1. View of the last portion of radar data along with the airport location and accident site. Pilot The Clark County Medical Examiner, Vancouver, Washington, performed an autopsy of the pilot. The cause of death was "multiple blunt force injuries." The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Forensic Sciences Laboratory conducted forensic toxicology examinations on specimens from the pilot; no carbon monoxide or ethanol were detected. Salicylate and Ibuprofen were detected in the urine. Instructor The Clark County Medical Examiner, Vancouver, Washington, performed an autopsy of the instructor. The cause of death was "multiple blunt force injuries," and that the autopsy revealed no significant natural disease. The FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory conducted forensic toxicology examinations on specimens from the instructor; no carbon monoxide, ethanol, or tested-for drugs were detected. The airplane came to rest in a shallow (1-2 ft) floodplain pond along the extended centerline of runway 31 and about 1,000 ft from the threshold. The airplane was upright, in an approximate 15° nose down attitude, on a heading of about 130°. All major structural components of the airplane remained attached or partially attached to the airplane. The pond containednumerous upright flagged sticks which marked planted saplings. These sticks/flags were regularly and closely (3-5 ft) spaced. Almost all sticks surrounding the airplane, including some below the upraised empennage, were undisturbed. The fuselage was fractured and buckled at both the firewall and the aft cockpit bulkhead. The engine and cowl were displaced up and to the right. The aft fuselage was also displaced to the right. The lower forward fuselage displayed significant upward crush damage direction, and the two fixed main landing gear legs and wheel assemblies were displaced aft and up. Both wings remained attached to the fuselage, but with significant leading edge crush damage in the aft direction. The flaps were found in the fully-retracted position, as was the cockpit flap handle. The left aileron was separated from the wing at its outboard end but remained attached inboard. The right aileron remained completely attached to the wing. The left wing fuel tank cap was absent, but the right wing fuel cap was present and securely installed. The horizontal and vertical stabilizers, as well as their respective balance weights and control surfaces, remained attached and undamaged. The engine was partly covered in mud, but no evidence of catastrophic mechanical failure was observed. The two-blade metal propeller remained attached to the engine. One blade was bent aft, and the other blade was essentially undamaged. Bird remains were found on the right (outboard) arm/clothing of the flight instructor. Examination of the recovered wreckage revealed that a considerable amount of dry mud/dirt covered a majority of the engine. During removal of the dirt from the engine, evidence of bird remains was found in multiple areas, including feathers embedded into the upper right engine mount attachment bolt area and surrounding the engine-driven fuel pump. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preexisting mechanical malfunction. Flight control continuity was established throughout the airframe to all primary flight control surfaces. Examination of the collected bird remains was conducted by the Feather Identification Lab of the Smithsonian Institution. The remains were consistent with an adult Green-Winged Teal, a species common to the geographic region as well as the specific accident locale (flooded field). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N90LK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N90LK-2020-04-03), registration cancelled 2020-04-03, S/N 20147, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Vans RV 6 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Kays Milo Luther RV-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/kays-milo-luther-rv-6) (registry code 05608GM) (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: 20147 - Year built: 1990 - Airframe hours: 1147 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 SERIES reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 3, 2018 - Departed: 1W1, Camas, WA - Airport: W46, Daybreak, runway 31, 2,200 × 60 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,500 total - Flight instructor; injuries: fatal; airline transport, flight instructor, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 20,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: SPD, 9.3 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 20190429004449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190429004449A), Apr 29, 2019: Kays Milo Luther RV-6, Ridgefield, WA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Pilot/owner of N90LK, RV-6, met CFI for bi-annual flight review at 1330, fueled aircraft, and then departed grove field airport (1W1) camas, WA, at 1404… ## Docket (13 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 3, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99339. 17.5 MB in all. - Radar track images (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 8 photos, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9952709&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=8a%20-%20Radar%20Track%20Images-Rel.pdf - Accident flight kml file (item 2, KML, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9951815&FileExtension=kml&FileName=8%20-%20Accident%20Flight%20KML%20File-Rel.kml - Accident flight excel radar data (item 3, XLSX, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9952504&FileExtension=xlsx&FileName=7%20-%20Accident%20Flight%20Radar%20Data-Rel.xlsx - On site examination notes (item 4, PDF, 6 pages, 3 photos, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9952879&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1%20-%20WPR19FA124%20On%20Site%20Examination-Rel.pdf - Airframe and engine examination summary (item 5, PDF, 6 pages, 4 photos, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12092135&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Examination-Rel.pdf - Bird remains id letter (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 366 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9952222&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4%20-%20Feather%20ID%20Letter_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Bird information (item 7, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 259 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9952700&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=5%20-%20Bird%20Info-Rel.pdf - Smithsonian bird identification letter (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12092417&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Joshua%20Cawthra_NTSB_Washington_2_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records information (item 9, PDF, 7 pages, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9952233&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=12%20-%20Mx%20Records%20Info_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 10, PDF, 1 page, 882 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12091661&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=signed%20wreckage_releasedocs_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Toxicology report pilot (item 11, PDF, 1 page, 466 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9951842&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=13%20-%20Tox%20PIC%202019_078_001_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Toxicology report CFI (item 12, PDF, 1 page, 472 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9951750&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=14%20-%20Tox%20CFI%202019_078_002_Redacted-Rel.pdf - On scene images (item 13, PDF, 11 pages, 15 photos, 5.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9960833&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1a%20-%20On%20Scene%20Images-Rel.pdf 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.