Vans Aircraft RV-8 accident near Ripley, CA
On May 24, 1998, a Vans Aircraft RV-8 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Ripley, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 24, 1998
- Place
- Ripley, CA
- Aircraft
- Vans Aircraft RV-8 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.781°N, 116.410°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X10121
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 24, 1998, at 0630 hours Pacific daylight time, a factory-built kit, experimental airplane, Van's RV-8, N58RV, experienced an in-flight structural separation and crashed 1 mile south of Ripley, California. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot and pilot-rated passenger sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft was being operated as a business flight by Van's Aircraft, Inc., under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The flight originated from a private agricultural strip in Blythe, California, at 0618. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan had been filed. A relative of the passenger reported that, on departure, the pilot was seated in the front seat, while the passenger was in back. The purpose of the flight was for the pilot to demonstrate the aircraft's flight characteristics to the passenger, who was believed by the kit manufacturer to be a potential kit buyer. An agricultural pilot who was inbound to the strip in the opposite direction passed the southbound aircraft. He described the aircraft as being in straight and level flight at an estimated altitude of 500 feet agl. He said he did not notice anything unusual at the time. An eyewitness, standing about 1.5 miles northwest of the crash site, reported that he heard the sound of an engine surging and looked in the direction of the sound. He saw a yellow aircraft flying straight and level, about 1,000 feet agl. The aircraft was on a southerly heading, about 1 mile east of his location. He estimated that he watched the flight for about a m
Probable cause
the intentional or unintentional sudden application of aft elevator control by an undetermined aircraft occupant that exceeded the design stress limits of the aircraft. The aircraft gross weight, which exceeded the maximum allowable for aerobatics, and airspeed, which exceeded the maximum maneuvering speed for the weight, were factors in this accident.
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Browse: California · Vans aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
