Alexander VAN'S RV-8 accident near Lafayette, OR
On July 10, 1999, an Alexander VAN'S RV-8 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Lafayette, OR. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 10, 1999
- Place
- Lafayette, OR
- Aircraft
- Alexander VAN'S RV-8 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 45.241°N, 123.110°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X19358
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 10, 1999, approximately 1520 Pacific daylight time, an Alexander Van's model RV-8 homebuilt aircraft, N41VA, constructed by/registered to and being flown by a private pilot, was destroyed when it collided with terrain during an uncontrolled descent preceded by an in-flight fire during descent one nautical mile north of Lafayette, Oregon. The pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan had been activated. The flight, which was personal, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and originated from Arlington, Washington, earlier on the date of the accident. A fuel stop had been made at Scappoose, Oregon, between 1345-1445 hours. An eyewitness located within about one-half mile of the crash site reported that he "heard the airplane revving its engine full force..." and "looked up to see the airplane flying level from west to east...." He further reported that the "airplane then started to nose down until it was going nearly strate [sic] down..." and that "the engine was revving full force untill [sic] it crashed and exploded..." (refer to attached witness statement). The witness, who was south of the aircraft's flight path and crash site, estimated the altitude of the aircraft as about 200 feet. An ear witness located within one mile of the crash site reported hearing "a single engine plane engine go to a wide open throttle position for appox [sic] 2 or 4 sec[onds] and then nothing." He did not see the aircraft until after it impacted the terrain (refer to attached witness statement). A third witness, who did
Probable cause
Fatigue of the number two connecting rod end resulting in a fracture at the rod end and release from the crankshaft, an ensuing in-flight fuel fed fire, followed by the pilot's abandoning the aircraft in flight. A contributing factor was pressure on the pilot induced by the conditions/events (in-flight fire entering the upper cockpit).
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Browse: Oregon
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
