Van's RV6 N69HF

Summary

On 8 December 2020 at about 21:40 local time, a Van's RV6 registered N69HF was involved in an accident near Hitchcock, Texas, 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

8 December 2020 at 21:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Hitchcock, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Scholes International Airport (KGLS)

Coordinates

29.3429, -95.0045

Aircraft

Van's RV6

Registration

N69HF

Category

Airplane

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Galveston → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN21LA080

1 person died.

The pilot’s impairment by the effects of ingested alcohol, which resulted in the loss of airplane control and impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Before the accident flight, the pilot was seen conducting maintenance on the airplane in front of his hangar. Witnesses heard the pilot start the engine and saw the airplane take off from the hangar/ramp area and stated that the pilot appeared to be struggling to control the airplane. About 1.5 hours later, the airplane was seen flying at low altitude over a residential area before it impacted the ground. Witnesses stated that the engine was running normally before the accident and that the airplane appeared “out of control.” Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Postmortem toxicology testing of specimens from the pilot were consistent with the recent use of alcohol and a sedating antihistamine. It is likely that the pilot was impaired from ingested alcohol, which contributed to his loss of airplane control. Whether effects from his use of the antihistamine also contributed to the accident could not be determined. Although family and friends described the pilot having episodes of unusual behavior in the years before the accident, no significant medical conditions were identified during the investigation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.