Lafrance V-Witt W2 N63VW

Summary

On 20 August 1994 at about 22:03 local time, a Lafrance V-Witt W2 registered N63VW was involved in an accident near Wilmington, Ohio, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 August 1994 at 22:03

Classification

Accident

Location

Wilmington, Ohio, United States

Coordinates

39.4401, -83.8301

Aircraft

Lafrance V-Witt W2

Registration

N63VW

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

BFO94LA141

1 person died.

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHILE ATTEMPTING A MANEUVER FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL AND COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE LACK OF ALTITUDE FOR REMEDIAL ACTION (AFTER LOSS OF ENGINE POWER).

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

ACCORDING TO AN FAA AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR, THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING IN AN AIRSHOW. HE STATED THAT, ALTHOUGH THE PILOT HAD SOME DIFFICULTY STARTING THE ENGINE, HE COMPLETED HIS PREFLIGHT INSPECTION AND ENGINE RUN-UP SUCCESSFULLY. DURING THE PILOT'S AIRSHOW ROUTINE, HE WAS MANEUVERING AT LOW ALTITUDE AROUND PYLONS THAT WERE POSITIONED ADJACENT TO RUNWAY 4/22. SOME WITNESSES REPORTED THE ENGINE LOST POWER (AS THE AIRPLANE WAS PROCEEDING ALONG THE RIGHT SIDE OF RUNWAY 4). THE ENGINE SOUND WAS DESCRIBED AS 'SPUTTERING.' THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A CLIMB AND MANEUVERED TO THE RIGHT & BACK LEFT (AS IF THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO MANEUVER FOR LANDING ON RUNWAY 22). THE AIRPLANE THEN DESCENDED IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS IN THE 'OFF' POSITION. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.