Ross H/Herriott M VANS AIRCRAFT RV 3 N625ZH

Summary

On 24 November 2014 at about 19:45 local time, a Ross H/Herriott M VANS AIRCRAFT RV 3 registered N625ZH, operated by Tyler Francis, was involved in an accident near Las Cruces, New Mexico, 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

24 November 2014 at 19:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Las Cruces International (LRU)

Coordinates

32.3096, -107.0610

Aircraft

Ross H/Herriott M VANS AIRCRAFT RV 3

Registration

N625ZH

Category

Airplane

Year built

1997

Engines

1

Operator

Tyler Francis

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Las Cruces → Santa Teresa

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN15LA059

1 person died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control, which resulted in a stall/spin. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to obtain adequate familiarization in the accident airplane type before the accident.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Several witnesses reported that they observed the airplane make a steep climb shortly after takeoff and that the airplane then made two 90-degree left bank turns to enter the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. During the turns, the airplane's wings were rocking back and forth, the airplane was in a nose-high attitude and not climbing, and the flight control surfaces were moving. The airplane then began another left turn, the left wing dropped, and the airplane spun toward the ground. One witness reported that the engine sounded normal throughout the flight. A friend of the pilot stated that the pilot had purchased the airplane 2 days before the accident and had no previous flight experience in the airplane make and model. He estimated that the pilot had only flown the airplane about 4.0 hours before the accident. Based on witness accounts, there were no preaccident anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Therefore, it is likely that the pilot lost control of the airplane while maneuvering in the traffic pattern, which resulted in a stall/spin. It is also likely that the pilot's lack of experience in the airplane type contributed to his failure to maintain airplane control during the turns. Although postaccident toxicology tests detected a low level of marijuana in the pilot's blood, liver, and lung, it is unlikely that it impaired his performance on the day of the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.