Vans RV6 accident near Methuen, MA
On June 17, 2024, a Vans RV6 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Methuen, MA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- June 17, 2024
- Place
- Methuen, MA
- Aircraft
- Vans RV6 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 42.735°N, 71.121°W
- NTSB ID
- 20240617194485
Official records · ERA24FA265
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Klwm Atct Recording: Audio recording (MP3), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn June 17, 2024, about 1415 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Vans RV-6A airplane, N715PA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Methuen, Massachusetts. The private pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot’s friend, the pilot planned to practice takeoffs and landings in the airport’s traffic pattern. A review of air traffic control communications and radar data revealed the airplane departed runway 23 at the Lawrence Municipal Airport (LWM), Lawrence, Massachusetts, about 1411. After takeoff, the airplane climbed to 1,650 ft mean sea level (msl) before it made a wide right turn to enter the downwind leg of the traffic pattern (see figure 1). About 1411, an air traffic controller cleared the pilot to land, and the pilot acknowledged. Less than 1 minute later, the pilot said he was having a “problem”, and the controller cleared him to land on any runway. The pilot transmitted “oh, oh”, and there were no further communications from him. Figure 1. ADS-B flight track data for the entire flight (yellow line) with the wreckage area at the accident site annotated (orange square). Several witnesses reported that they thought the airplane was experiencing engine trouble after it took off. One witness was outside his office when he heard the airplane departing. The engine was at “full throttle” before it abruptly stopped. The witness said the airplane leveled and made a right turn (north to east) at an altitude of about
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to manage the available fuel supply, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
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Browse: Massachusetts · 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.
