Vans RV8 accident near Culpeper, VA
On October 12, 2018, a Vans RV8 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Culpeper, VA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 12, 2018
- Place
- Culpeper, VA
- Aircraft
- Vans RV8 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.519°N, 77.863°W
- NTSB ID
- 20181012X12629
Official records · ERA19FA010
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn October 12, 2018, about 2000 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Vans RV-8, N804RL, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident in Culpeper, Virginia. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 airshow flight. The accident airplane was part of aerobatic team of two RV-8 airplanes that were participating in the Culpeper Air Fest airshow. The accident airplane was the trailing airplane. The airplanes were fitted with streamer-type fireworks that trailed from each airplane throughout the demonstration, as well as 12 pairs of flare-type fireworks, which were discharged periodically during the routine. According to the pilot in the lead airplane, they departed Cincinnati, Ohio, around 1000 on the morning of the accident and arrived at Culpeper Regional Airport (CJR) at 1150. They rigged the fireworks and prepared the airplanes for the airshow. They finished about 1600 and waited in the fixed base operator until the night portion of the airshow began. The lead pilot stated that they had flown the night show routine on three occasions during the previous 30 days. He added that the team had performed in darkness previously but, "this one was a little bit on the darker side," so they elected to fly at 700 ft above ground level (agl) instead of their usual 500 ft agl. The lead pilot further reported that he was always in front, and as the maneuvers progressed, the airplanes would get farther apart. The flight sequence was planned to last about 5 minutes, and the airplanes were
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of attitude orientation while maneuvering at low altitude in dark night visual meteorological conditions, which resulted in impact with terrain.
More accidents in VA
- Boeing 757-200, Sep 11, 2001
- Beech B99, Sep 23, 1985
- Beech 65, Sep 10, 1995
- Beech 200, Oct 24, 2004
- Piper PA-31-310, Nov 14, 1982
Browse: Virginia · Vans aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
