Groce VANS RV-4 accident near Glendive, MT
On August 1, 1994, a Groce VANS RV-4 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Glendive, MT. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 1, 1994
- Place
- Glendive, MT
- Aircraft
- Groce VANS RV-4 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 47.120°N, 104.870°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001206X02135
NTSB summary
On August 1, 1994, at 1415 mountain daylight time, an experimental Groce Vans RV-4, N7GJ, was destroyed when it collided with terrain after takeoff from runway 20 at Glendive, Montana. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured in the crash. There was no flight plan filed for the flight, which was conducted in visual meteorological conditions. The aircraft was destroyed by post-crash fire. No report of an ELT was made. The pilot had stopped at Glendive to refuel his aircraft after visiting a fly-in in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The aircraft was fueled with 17.5 gallons of auto gas. Before leaving, the pilot stated that he thought the fuel required to top off the aircraft would have been 16 gallons. A Big Sky Airlines customer service agent observed the aircraft during takeoff, noting that he was airborne at 10 to 15 feet above the ground and "not really gaining altitude." She did not witness the crash. The captain of the commuter flight noted that "after rotation approx 25' or so, his left wing dipped downward, aircraft seemed under powered. It was hot, Density alt(itude) 5200' lite gusty winds." The commuter captain did not see the aircraft crash. During on-site inspection, FAA inspectors noted that the aft cockpit was loaded with camping gear, including a tent, campstove, six cans of food, a large clothing bag, camera, headset, and five or six jars, as well as an extensive collection of aviation literature. Witnesses observed the takeoff, but did not see the crash. They noted that the aircraft became airborne in the first quarter of the runway. When the wreckag
Probable cause
AIRSPEED WAS NOT MAINTAINED AFTER TAKEOFF. A FACTOR WAS HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
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Browse: Montana
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
