Van's RV-6T N96VA

Summary

On 2 April 2000 at about 20:30 local time, a Van's RV-6T registered N96VA was involved in an accident near Pettigrew, Arkansas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 April 2000 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Pettigrew, Arkansas, United States

Coordinates

35.8198, -93.5896

Aircraft

Van's RV-6T

Registration

N96VA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Aurora → Shreveport

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW00FA113

2 people died.

the pilot's continued flight into known adverse weather and his failure to maintain obstacle clearance. Contributing factors were adverse weather conditions, and the pilot's disregard for the forecasted adverse weather.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Prior to departing on the cross-country flight, the non-instrument rated private pilot obtained a standard weather briefing from an automated flight service station (AFSS). The AFSS briefer advised the pilot that there were flight advisories for instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), moderate turbulence, and moderate icing along the route of flight and VFR flight was not recommended. Witnesses located near the accident site heard the experimental airplane circling the wooded, mountainous area for about 10-15 minutes prior to hearing the sounds of the airplane impacting trees. The witnesses reported that the weather was foggy, and they estimated that the visibility was less than 400 feet. Examination of the airframe and engine did not disclose any structural or mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal operation. The airplane was not equipped for flight in IMC.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.