Vans RV6 accident near Porterville, CA
On June 7, 2021, a Vans RV6 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Porterville, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 7, 2021
- Place
- Porterville, CA
- Aircraft
- Vans RV6 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 36.036°N, 119.070°W
- NTSB ID
- 20210607103224
Official records · WPR21FA223
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn June 07, 2021, about 1420, a Vans RV-6A experimental airplane, N94PJ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in Porterville, California. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot departed from his home airport in Fresno, California about 1320 and landed at Porterville shortly thereafter. A witness at the airport observed the pilot and airplane before the accident. They stated that the pilot refueled the airplane with about 17.5 gallons at the self-serve fuel tanks located mid-field. A witness observed the pilot, positioned in the right seat, start the airplane after refueling. The start-up was abnormal and sounded as though it was a “hot start” with the engine rpm’s immediately accelerating to a near-maximum setting. The airplane then continued to the departure end of the runway and proceeded to takeoff. The airplane began to climb and the engine was making “popping” sounds while continuing left of centerline. The nose pitched down and the engine momentarily sounded normal as the airplane then climbed to about 300 ft above ground level (agl). The “popping sounds” continued and some witnesses observed that the engine then experienced a loss of power (see Figure 1 below). Figure 1: Visual of Witness Reports Video footage was obtained from a fixed security camera at the airport. A review of the footage revealed that the airplane made a hard right bank, with the wings near perpendicular to the ground.,. The witnesses further stated that the airp
Probable cause
A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on available information.
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Browse: California · 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.
