Goodwin RANS S-4 accident near Cedar Bluff, VA
On June 16, 1997, a Goodwin RANS S-4 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Cedar Bluff, VA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 16, 1997
- Place
- Cedar Bluff, VA
- Aircraft
- Goodwin RANS S-4 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 37.519°N, 79.680°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X08222
NTSB summary
On June 15, 1997, about 2030 eastern daylight time, an experimental homebuilt, tailwheel equipped airplane, a Goodwin Rans S-4, N495J, was destroyed when it impacted terrain during an uncontrolled descent from the initial climb after takeoff, near Cedar Bluff, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight destined for Tazewell County Airport, Richlands, Virginia. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. Witnesses reported that this was the pilot's first flight in the experimental homebuilt airplane. The airplane was observed in the initial takeoff climb when it banked right, pitched down abruptly and impacted the ground. A review of the pilot's log book revealed that he had a total flight experience of about 72 hours, of which, 4 hours were in tailwheel equipped airplane's. The pilot's two most recent flights were May 10, 1997, and April 15, 1997. The pilot had no previous flights in the accident airplane. The wreckage was examined by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector. In a report from the FAA Inspector, it stated that "it appears that the pilot inadvertently allowed the aircraft to stall and enter a spin and was unable to recover control prior to impact. An investigation of the aircraft and its systems failed to produce any evidence of failure or malfunction."
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during the initial takeoff climb which resulted in an inadvertent stall. A related factor was the pilot's lack of familiarity with the airplane.
More accidents in VA
- Boeing 757-200, Sep 11, 2001
- Beech B99, Sep 23, 1985
- Beech 65, Sep 10, 1995
- Beech 200, Oct 24, 2004
- Piper PA-31-310, Nov 14, 1982
Browse: Virginia
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
