Van's RV 3 N24DE

Summary

On 23 April 2020 at about 14:25 local time, a Van's RV 3 registered N24DE was involved in an accident near Independence, Iowa, 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

23 April 2020 at 14:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Independence, Iowa, United States

Nearest airport

Independence Municipal Airport (IIB)

Coordinates

42.4569, -91.9478

Aircraft

Van's RV 3

Registration

N24DE

Category

Airplane

Year built

1979

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Independence → Independence

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN20CA155

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a high-speed taxi with a quartering tailwind, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a fence and terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot practiced taxiing the airplane for about 1/2 hour before he attempted a takeoff and landing. After landing, he decided to practice a runway "speed up and down" to become more comfortable with engine settings. During the first "runup," he applied "very light throttle input," but the engine power increased "very fast." The airplane suddenly turned left, and the left wing dropped close to the ground with the airplane between about 35 and 40 mph. The pilot applied right rudder and changed the engine power but was unable to gain control of the airplane. The airplane veered left off the runway, went up an incline, struck the airport perimeter fence, and impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. A quartering tailwind prevailed at the time of the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.