Riekkenen RYELONG LE accident near Wurtsboro, NY
On August 9, 1997, a Riekkenen RYELONG LE (airplane) was involved in an accident near Wurtsboro, NY. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 9, 1997
- Place
- Wurtsboro, NY
- Aircraft
- Riekkenen RYELONG LE · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 41.570°N, 74.479°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X08652
NTSB summary
On August 9, 1997, about 1135 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Ryelong LE, N4YC, was destroyed as it impacted the terrain during a low altitude maneuver at the Wurtsboro-Sullivan County Airport, Wurtsboro, New York. The certificated private pilot/owner was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. Numerous witnesses watched as the airplane departed on runway 23. The airplane climbed into the left traffic pattern, and the pilot extended the downwind while maintaining altitude. The witnesses stated that the turns to base leg and final were done in such a way as to lose altitude and accelerate the airplane. The airplane arrived over the approach end of runway 23, about 20 feet above the ground and at an estimated airspeed in excess of 180 MPH. About two thirds of the way down the runway, the airplane nosed up and, about 100 feet AGL, commenced a left roll. Witnesses stated that half way through the roll, in an inverted attitude, the nose of the airplane dropped below the horizon. The airplane began to descend, and as the airplane continued to roll, the rate of descent increased. The airplane impacted the ground in a 30-45 degree right wing down and 30 degrees nose down attitude. A witness stated that the engine was running the entire maneuver. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspectors examined the wreckage and the debris field. Their examination revealed that the Initial Impact Point (IIP) was 135 feet left of the approach end of runway 5, and the debris field was oriented ab
Probable cause
The pilot performed an aerobatic maneuver and misjudged the altitude.
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
