Minkler Venture M20 accident near Reno, NV
On September 13, 2002, a Minkler Venture M20 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Reno, NV. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 13, 2002
- Place
- Reno, NV
- Aircraft
- Minkler Venture M20 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.667°N, 119.883°W
- NTSB ID
- 20020919X05182
NTSB summary
On September 13, 2002, at 1440 Pacific daylight time, an amateur-built Minkler Venture M20 airplane, N360, sustained a structural failure of the left and right horizontal stabilizers and the associated elevators at the Reno-Stead Airport, Reno, Nevada, while participating in the sport class race as part of the annual Reno Air Races. Following the structural failure of the stabilizers and elevators, the airplane dove into the ground. The airplane, which was destroyed in the collision sequence, was operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors from the Reno Flight Standards District Office were present at the airport monitoring air race activities. They responded to the accident site and interviewed witnesses. The accident occurred about halfway through the sport class race. As the airplane was rounding pylon No. 1, the horizontal stabilizers and elevators began flexing (one witness who telephoned a report to Safety Board investigators said the airplane began a shallow porpoise just before) and then bent down. The airplane then dove into the ground. On-site assessment of the wreckage disclosed that the horizontal stabilizers and elevators remained attached to the empennage; however, they were bent down at an acute angle at a point about 2 feet outboard from the root on each side. The FAA inspectors reported that the first identified point
Probable cause
the overload failure of the horizontal stabilizers and elevators due to a pilot induced oscillation at a speed at or above Vne, which exceeded the design stress limits of the structure. Also causal was the intentional alteration by an unknown person or persons of the elevator down spring assembly, which likely reduced the stick force per G from a nominal 10 pounds to less than 1, and led to the pi
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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.
