Duci'S Vans RV-3 accident near Elbert, CO
On March 8, 1998, a Duci'S Vans RV-3 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Elbert, CO. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- March 8, 1998
- Place
- Elbert, CO
- Aircraft
- Duci'S Vans RV-3 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.220°N, 104.531°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X09658
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 8, 1998, approximately 1510 mountain standard time, a Duci's Vans RV-3 (upgraded to an RV-3A), N99HV, was destroyed when it collided with terrain while maneuvering near Elbert, Colorado. The airline transport rated pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local personal flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Elbert approximately 1445. The only witness to the accident, a U.S. Air Force Academy cadet, was watching the airplane from the south end of Kelly Airpark. The pilot "was performing aerobatics (loops, chandelles, rolls)." He then saw the airplane in a nose high attitude, "as if he were coming to the top of a loop." He said "one of his wings suddenly 'folded' up. It looked as if it had bent at the connection between the wing and the fuselage. It did not separate from the fuselage." The witness said the airplane nosed over, entered a "gentle spin," then stabilized and increased speed as it dove towards the ground. The witness estimated the time of the accident to be 1510, and he went to the nearest telephone and called 9-1-1. According to the Elbert County Sheriff's Office, the call was received at 1511. Two other witnesses submitted written statements, saying they had seen an airplane performing aerobatics over their homes. One witness said the airplane was 100 feet above the ground; the other said it was 65 feet. Their description of the airplane was similar to that of N99HV. The accident occurred during the hours o
Probable cause
in-flight failure of the right wing spar (for an undetermined reason) as the pilot was performing aerobatic flight. The airplane's excessive gross weight (for aerobatics) was a related factor.
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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.
