Van's RV-3 N993FL

Summary

On 26 September 2005 at about 00:15 local time, a Van's RV-3 registered N993FL was involved in an accident near Bell, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 September 2005 at 00:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Bell, Florida, United States

Coordinates

29.8142, -82.9256

Aircraft

Van's RV-3

Registration

N993FL

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Clearwater → Bell

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

MIA05CA161

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain visual lookout during a VFR approach toward the runway resulting in-flight collision with trees. Factors in this accident are no lights for the grass strip runway and attempting to land in low natural light visibility conduction.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that the runway was less visible than anticipated, partly due to the scattered clouds. He made several passes to identify the runway. It looked to him he had it made but veered off, possible looking at the altimeter, and hit the top of a tree. The airplane separated in several sections from the impact. The section he was in hung from the tree a few feet above the ground in an up-side down position. He released the seat belt restraints and ran for help to put out the fire as a result of the crash.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.