Stutesman Charles Lee RV-6 accident near Balmorhea, TX
On April 4, 2010, a Stutesman Charles Lee RV-6 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Balmorhea, TX. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- April 4, 2010
- Place
- Balmorhea, TX
- Aircraft
- Stutesman Charles Lee RV-6 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 30.963°N, 103.722°W
- NTSB ID
- 20100404X55330
Official records · CEN10LA184
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 4, 2010, at 1257 central daylight time, a Stutesman RV-6, N4024K, was substantially damaged upon impact into Lake Balmorhea, Balmorhea, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane was fatally injured. The airplane's departure and destination points are not known. According to witness statements, the airplane was observed flying in the area surrounding Lake Balmorhea. Approximately 10 minutes prior to the accident, a motorist westbound on Interstate 10 (I-10) called 9-1-1 and reported seeing an airplane matching the description of the accident airplane flying low, possibly attempting to land on the interstate. The driver reported he was at mile marker 201, which was approximately 7.6 miles northwest of Lake Balmorhea. Eyewitnesses to the crash reported seeing the airplane flying at a low altitude and a slow airspeed arriving over the lake from the west before making a left turn as to head towards the north. The witnesses observed the airplane descending during the left turn before it impacted the water. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 77, held a commercial pilot certificate for airplane single engine and multi-engine land. Additionally, he held single engine flight instructor certificate, which expired July 31, 1990. A second class medical certificate was issued on January 21, 2009, with restrictions that the pi
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the lake while maneuvering at low altitude.
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Browse: Texas
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
