Noles Vance L VANS RV7A accident near Sanderson, FL
On July 8, 2009, a Noles Vance L VANS RV7A (airplane) was involved in an accident near Sanderson, FL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- July 8, 2009
- Place
- Sanderson, FL
- Aircraft
- Noles Vance L VANS RV7A · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 30.179°N, 82.324°W
- NTSB ID
- 20090709X75206
Official records · ERA09LA392
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 8, 2009, about 0905 eastern daylight time, a Vans RV7A, experimental amateur-built airplane, N774US, registered to and operated by a private owner as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight, collided with the ground in the vicinity of Sanderson, Florida. Instrument meteorological conditions were reported by a witness at the time of the accident, and the airplane received substantial structural damage. The non-instrument rated private pilot was killed. The pilot did not file a flight plan or receive a weather briefing before departing Wimauma Air Park (FD77), Wimauma, Florida at 0803, on a visual flight rules flight to McMinn County Airport (MMI), Athens, Tennessee. The flight was reported missing during the morning on July 9, 2009, and was located that afternoon by search and rescue personnel. The owner of FD77 airport stated the pilot informed her during the night before the accident, that he would pick her up at MMI on July 8, 2009, and fly her back to FD77. When the pilot did not arrive at MMI, she attempted to locate him by phone and through the FD77 airport manager. All attempts were unsuccessful. The airport owner stated she knew the weather was stormy along the pilot's route of flight and figured the pilot elected to land at an alternate airport, but was unable to contact her because he was out of cell phone coverage. When she could not locate the pilot on the morning of July 9, 2009, the authorities were notified of the missing airplane. A witness, who lives in the vicinity of the accident site, stated he was outside
Probable cause
The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions with convective activity and thunderstorms. Contributing to the accident was his failure to get an adequate weather briefing.
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Browse: Florida
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
