Harmon/Lance RV-4 N683RV

Summary

On 5 August 2005 at about 18:22 local time, a Harmon/Lance RV-4 registered N683RV was involved in an accident near Coolin, Idaho, 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

5 August 2005 at 18:22

Classification

Accident

Location

Coolin, Idaho, United States

Nearest airport

Cavanaugh Bay (66S)

Coordinates

48.5233, -116.8167

Aircraft

Harmon/Lance RV-4

Registration

N683RV

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Scappoose → Coolin

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA05LA162

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering to base leg for landing. Trees and inadequate in-flight planning were factors.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses in the area reported seeing the aircraft first fly over the bay, "...very low over the water, at times only 50 to 100 feet above the lake." This witness stated that the plane "buzzed" over the houses on the east side of Coolin Bay. The aircraft made two passes over the houses, then flew north towards Rocky Point and Cavanaugh Bay at a "very low altitude." Another witness reported that when he first saw the aircraft he thought that it had just taken off as the aircraft was "just above the trees when it suddenly veered hard to the right and disappeared into the trees." Smoke was seen almost immediately after he lost sight of the aircraft. Documentation of the accident site indicated that the aircraft collided with several trees before colliding with the terrain. Fire destroyed a majority of the aircraft and flight control system.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.