Schwarz RV-6A N94KA

Summary

On 25 June 2007 at about 17:45 local time, a Schwarz RV-6A registered N94KA was involved in an accident near Greeley, Colorado, 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

25 June 2007 at 17:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Greeley, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Greeley-Weld County (GXY)

Coordinates

40.4372, -104.6331

Aircraft

Schwarz RV-6A

Registration

N94KA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Erie → Greeley

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN07LA108

2 people died.

the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall and impact 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 a "close and tight" downwind leg for the runway at an altitude of approximately 400 feet above ground level. While on the downwind leg, the airplane was in "slow flight in a nose high attitude." The witness observed the airplane enter a steep left turn from the downwind to base leg, and "at that time, I thought it was going to stall and spin.". The airplane's wings rolled level and the airplane began to porpoise. During the porpoise, the witness noted hearing changes to the engine power. The airplane then entered another steep left turn with the wings almost vertical to terrain. "I could see the entire top of the plane during the turn and the engine RPM was increased dramatically, maybe to full power." The witness observed the "nose pitch up and the right wing stall...as if a falling leaf." Subsequently, the airplane entered a spin (1.5 rotations) and impacted terrain. The witness stated that during his observation "the engine was operating under power the entire time." The airplane came to rest inverted in grass terrain adjacent to a drainage ditch approximately 1/2 mile from the threshold of the runway and was destroyed by post impact fire. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.