Crosley VANS RV-8 N948RC

Summary

On 10 December 2011 at about 21:16 local time, a Crosley VANS RV-8 registered N948RC, operated by Crosley Richard, was involved in an accident near Armistead, California, 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

10 December 2011 at 21:16

Classification

Accident

Location

Armistead, California, United States

Coordinates

35.0586, -118.1506

Aircraft

Crosley VANS RV-8

Registration

N948RC

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Crosley Richard

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rosamond → Rosamond

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12FA062

1 person died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while performing low altitude aerobatic maneuvers.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Multiple witnesses located near the accident site reported observing the accident airplane flying over their position about 130 feet above the ground followed by it performing several barrel rolls. The airplane was observed making a 180-degree turn when it initiated a loop at a low altitude. Subsequently, the airplane impacted terrain in a near-vertical attitude before the maneuver was completed. Witnesses further reported that the engine seemed to be developing power at the time of the accident. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of a malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.