Case Richard L VAN RV-6 accident near Magnolia, NC
On October 5, 2009, a Case Richard L VAN RV-6 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Magnolia, NC. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- October 5, 2009
- Place
- Magnolia, NC
- Aircraft
- Case Richard L VAN RV-6 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 34.891°N, 78.052°W
- NTSB ID
- 20091005X51915
Official records · ERA10LA007
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Reports from Federal Agencies-ATC transcriptions N455RC: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
On October 5, 2009, about 1250 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Case RV-6, N455RC, experienced the pilot’s loss of control in flight and collided with trees near Magnolia, North Carolina. The private pilot was killed and the airplane was substantially damaged. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight departed from the Wilmington International Airport (ILM), Wilmington, North Carolina at 1227; destined for Franklin County Airport (LHZ), Louisburg, North Carolina. According to personnel at the Wilmington, North Carolina air traffic control tower (ATCT), the pilot radioed in at 1232, and requested to divert to the west to stay clear of some rain. Wilmington ATCT acknowledged the request and advised the pilot to deviate as requested around the weather. At 1246, the pilot contacted personnel at Seymour Johnson Airforce approach control and advised that he was "in the thick of the weather." At 1248, Seymour Johnson Airforce approach control observed the airplane on radar at 1,500 feet, circling before being lost off of radar. According to a witness, he was looking out of his window when he saw the airplane spinning out of the clouds towards the ground. The witness added that as the airplane "spun," the engine made a sputtering noise before colliding with the ground. The witness also reported that it was raining heavily at the time of the accident. The pilot, age 62, held a
Probable cause
The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meterological conditions and his subsequent failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight evaluation of the weather.
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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.
