James B Taplin RV-6 N43521

Summary

On 27 August 2009 at about 17:11 local time, a James B Taplin RV-6 registered N43521, operated by Harlan K. Klemm, was involved in an accident near Orland, California, 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

27 August 2009 at 17:11

Classification

Accident

Location

Orland, California, United States

Nearest airport

Orland Haigh Field (O37)

Coordinates

39.7203, -122.1464

Aircraft

James B Taplin RV-6

Registration

N43521

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Harlan K. Klemm

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Chico → Orland

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR09LA419

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor was conducting a biennial flight review with the commercial pilot. A witness reported that she observed the airplane heading in a southeast direction at an altitude of about 350 feet. The witness stated, "The plane began to execute a right hand turn, and then rolled over so the top of the plane was facing east and the nose was pointing down. I then saw the nose barely try to pull up, and I waited for it to come up, but it never did." A second witness, who was a first responder and was walking in close proximity to the accident site reported hearing the ground impact behind him, but was unaware that it was an airplane that had crashed, as he did not hear any engine noise prior to the impact. The witness reported smelling fuel and observing a pool of fuel forming under the wings after reaching the wreckage. Another first responder reported that he smelled a "strong odor" of aviation fuel as he approached the wreckage. GPS data revealed that the airplane had performed a 4-turn spiral over the airport prior to the descent to ground impact. Examination of the wreckage disclosed impact signatures and ground scars consistent with a stall/spin. A post accident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.