Miller J Kirtley RV-6 N8LK

Summary

On 7 November 2008 at about 19:30 local time, a Miller J Kirtley RV-6 registered N8LK, operated by Siesta Aviation Inc, was involved in an accident near Martinsville, Virginia, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 November 2008 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Martinsville, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Covington (VA72)

Coordinates

36.6000, -80.0386

Aircraft

Miller J Kirtley RV-6

Registration

N8LK

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Siesta Aviation Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Martinsville → Martinsville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09LA043

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the initial climb after an aborted landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment from an over-the-counter sedating antihistamine.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After bouncing on the runway, the pilot aborted the landing and added full engine power. The airplane began to climb, yawed to the left, and struck some small tree branches on the left side of the runway. The pilot corrected back toward the right; however, as the airplane approached the right side of the runway, in a nose-high attitude, it began a slow left yaw and roll. The airplane’s left wing impacted the runway, followed by the propeller and right wing, in a near-vertical attitude. Examination of the airplane did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The pilot had accumulated about 800 flight hours in a similar type airplane and had landed at the airport on numerous occasions. Toxicological testing revealed that chlorpheniramine, an over-the-counter sedating antihistamine, was detected in the pilot's blood. The level was several times higher than the level expected with a typical maximum single over-the-counter dose. In typical doses, the medication has measurable adverse effects on performance of complex and cognitive and motor tasks.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.