Lehman/Jerrell VANS RV-4 N44ME

Summary

On 22 January 1989 at about 19:30 local time, a Lehman/Jerrell VANS RV-4 registered N44ME was involved in an accident near Tucson, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 January 1989 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Tucson, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Lacholla Airpark (40E)

Coordinates

32.3290, -110.9807

Aircraft

Lehman/Jerrell VANS RV-4

Registration

N44ME

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX89DUJ04

2 people died.

POOR JUDGEMENT BY THE PILOT IN ATTEMPTING AND THEN IMPROPERLY PERFORMING AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER AFTER TAKEOFF, RESULTING IN A STALL/SPIN TO THE GROUND.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING A LOCAL FLIGHT JUST AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO FLY THE LENGTH OF THE RUNWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 5-7 FEET AGL. AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE AIRPLANE WENT INTO A STEEP CLIMB TO 200-300 FEET AGL THEN ROLLED TO THE LEFT. THE NOSE PITCHED DOWN AND THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED IN A SPIN UNTIL COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN. NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS OF THE AIRPLANE WAS FOUND. THE ACFT HAD A TOTAL FLT TIME OF 119 HOURS. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN CERTIFIED ON 8/20/88. THE PILOT WAS ALSO THE OWNER OF THE AIRCRAFT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.