Van's RV-12 N234VA

Summary

On 20 June 2017 at about 01:23 local time, a Van's RV-12 registered N234VA, operated by Lane Community College, was involved in an accident near Eugene, Oregon, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 June 2017 at 01:23

Classification

Accident

Location

Eugene, Oregon, United States

Nearest airport

Mahlon Sweet Field (EUG)

Coordinates

44.1217, -123.2158

Aircraft

Van's RV-12

Registration

N234VA

Category

Airplane

Year built

2014

Engines

1

Operator

Lane Community College

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Eugene → Eugene

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA358

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the flight school director, the student pilot was conducting stop-and-go landings during a solo flight. He added that the student pilot reported that, during takeoff, the airplane began to "fishtail," the pilot reduced power, but the airplane continued to the left, exited the runway, and impacted a taxiway sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The flight school director reported that, according to the student pilot, there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.