Harden RV-7 N303BK

Summary

On 10 June 2009 at about 00:32 local time, a Harden RV-7 registered N303BK, operated by Harden Bruce D R, was involved in an accident near Elim, Alaska, 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

10 June 2009 at 00:32

Classification

Accident

Location

Elim, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

64.6383, -162.2333

Aircraft

Harden RV-7

Registration

N303BK

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Harden Bruce D R

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Galena → Nome

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC09FA052

2 people died.

The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed on a visual flight rules cross-country flight on a route that passed near a small coastal town and uncontrolled airport. Witnesses at the coastal town reported low clouds, fog, and poor visibility in the area just before the accident. They also saw and heard an airplane flying very low over their town, which was at a lower elevation than the airport. One witness estimated that the airplane was only a few feet above power lines, or about 30 feet above ground level. The witnesses noted that the airplane flew over the airport and village twice and, during the last pass, turned north toward the top of a hill and the crash site. They indicated that the engine sound was steady. Data from a global positioning system unit found in the wreckage depicted the airplane's track from departure to the accident site. Near the accident airport, the track was along a meandering path that crossed itself and had several course reversals. Images from weather cameras at the accident airport indicated that the visibility was less than 1 mile. The pilot did not have an instrument rating. No record was found that the pilot had received a weather briefing prior to the flight. A postaccident inspection of the airplane disclosed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical anomalies. Given the poor weather conditions, witness reports, the meandering flight path near the airport, the pilot's lack of an instrument rating, and the absence of any mechanical problems with the airplane, it is likely the pilot flew into instrument meteorological weather conditions while attempting to locate the runway and collided with rising terrain near the airport.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.