McLarty VANS RV-4 N45DR

Summary

On 14 May 2000 at about 17:15 local time, a McLarty VANS RV-4 registered N45DR was involved in an accident near Apex, North Carolina, 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

14 May 2000 at 17:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Apex, North Carolina, United States

Coordinates

35.7328, -78.8497

Aircraft

McLarty VANS RV-4

Registration

N45DR

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Apex → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA00LA153

2 people died.

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall and subsequent collision with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A witness observed the airplane on takeoff roll; the airplane became airborne and started a shallow left turn over the trees. The witness heard a sound like the engine backfired, observed black smoke- and watched the airplane until it disappeared from view. Another witness saw the airplane through the window of his house. The nose of the airplane was in a 45-degree nose high attitude over the trees and he did not hear any engine noise. It appeared to the witness that the pilot did not have control of the airplane. It came down like a tree falling. The airplane collide with the ground wings level with the fuselage intact and slid about 10 feet before colliding with trees in his front yard. Examination of the airframe flight controls and engine assembly revealed no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure or malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.