Ritter RV-10 N410MR

Summary

On 9 March 2008 at about 17:47 local time, a Ritter RV-10 registered N410MR was involved in an accident near Ledbetter, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 March 2008 at 17:47

Classification

Accident

Location

Ledbetter, Texas, United States

Coordinates

30.2303, -96.7605

Aircraft

Ritter RV-10

Registration

N410MR

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Brenham → Lockhart

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW08LA081

1 person died.

The pilot's loss of control for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The accident pilot attended a "fly-in" breakfast, and while there had mentioned to several people that he wasn't feeling well and he was probably coming down with a cold. A pilot who departed about 15-20 minutes before the accident pilot, reported that they talked about doing a GPS approach on the return flight and that they would meet after landing. The airplane (and pilot) did not show up, and a search was initiated. The airplane was located in a wooded area 2 days later. The airplane impacted the ground in a near vertical angle and at a high rate of speed. There was no reported communication or distress calls from the accident pilot. Review of the airplane's radar track shows the airplane shortly after its departure, climbing and heading southwest. The radar plots also revealed that once the aircraft was established at an altitude of 2,600 feet, the altitude did not vary, nor did the aircraft make any major heading changes. The last radar return was at 12:47, the airplane appeared to be in level flight at 2,600 feet. An aircraft wreckage lay-out was conducted; most of the cabin area and airplane had disintegrated during the accident sequence. All four corners of the aircraft were accounted for. The pilot and passenger's main cabin doors were fragmented and found with the wreckage debris. The top of the fuselage cabin, where the two main doors attached was located, and the four hinges that attach the doors were in place. Examination of the flight control components revealed breaks and fractures consistent with overload separation. The engine displayed significant impact damage. No evidence of an in-flight fire was noted with either the fuselage or engine areas. Nor was a reason for the loss of control found. An autopsy was preformed on the pilot by the Medical Examiner. The cause of death was listed as undetermined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.