Van's VANS ACFT RV 6 N696SH

Summary

On 14 June 2019 at about 17:00 local time, a Van's VANS ACFT RV 6 registered N696SH was involved in an accident near Culpepper, Virginia, 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

14 June 2019 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Culpepper, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Culpeper Rgnl (CJR)

Coordinates

38.5256, -77.8597

Aircraft

Van's VANS ACFT RV 6

Registration

N696SH

Category

Airplane

Year built

2004

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Culpepper → Culpepper

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA19CA351

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a ground loop. 

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll, the airplane encountered a wind gust, so she added more aileron input to counteract it, but the "gust died down." The airplane then fishtailed, so she attempted to abort the takeoff by reducing power and applying brakes, but the airplane veered right. Despite applying brakes to stop the veer, the left wing settled to the ground, and the airplane came to a stop at the side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing aft spar and engine mounts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.