Morrison Marvin E Jr RV 6A accident near Petaluma, CA
On May 27, 2018, a Morrison Marvin E Jr RV 6A (airplane) was involved in an accident near Petaluma, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- May 27, 2018
- Place
- Petaluma, CA
- Aircraft
- Morrison Marvin E Jr RV 6A · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 38.265°N, 122.612°W
- NTSB ID
- 20180527X02344
Official records · WPR18FA150
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn May 27, 2018, about 1600 Pacific daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built RV-6A airplane, N4269Y, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain shortly after takeoff from Petaluma Municipal Airport (O69), Petaluma, California. The commercial pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which was originating at the time of the accident. The reported destination was Lincoln Regional/Karl Harder Field (LHM), Lincoln, California. A witness located about 1,100 ft southeast of the departure end of runway 29, saw the airplane take off and climb fast at a high angle of attack. When the airplane was about mid-runway and 500 ft above ground level (agl), the witness heard a loud pop or backfire from the engine. When the airplane was at the end of the runway and about 750 to 800 ft above the ground, he heard "…a series of smaller backfires…as his engine was quitting." The witness saw the airplane start a turn and stated that the first 90° of the turn looked normal. During the second half of the 180° turn, the bank angle increased and the airplane entered a spin; it completed seven full revolutions before it stopped spinning, then impacted the ground behind a golf course. A second witness observed the accident from a golf course driving range about 1,750 ft north-northwest of the departure end of the runway. He reported that, while hitting golf ba
Probable cause
A partial loss of engine power during initial climb after takeoff due to a loose left magneto, and the pilot's decision to turn back to the airport and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and impact with terrain.
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Browse: California
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
