Van's RV-12 N86GV

Summary

On 21 October 2022 at about 19:30 local time, a Van's RV-12 registered N86GV, operated by Blackwell Jimmie A, was involved in an accident near Chandler, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 October 2022 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Chandler, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.2654, -95.4978

Aircraft

Van's RV-12

Registration

N86GV

Category

Airplane

Year built

2013

Engines

1

Operator

Blackwell Jimmie A

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tyler → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN23FA016

1 person died.

The loss of control inflight for reasons that could not be determined.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed the airport for an unknown destination. ADS-B data captured the accident flight as it departed from the runway and climbed to about 5,500 ft mean sea level (msl). It then entered a descending right turn with increasing speed and impacted shallow water on the bank of a lake. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A gear marking in the engine case was consistent with the engine producing power at the time of the accident. The pilot had a documented history of angioplasty and hypertension, and toxicological evidence indicated he had used medications consistent with treating cardiovascular disease. He likely was at increased risk of a sudden impairing or incapacitating cardiovascular event. An autopsy was conducted on the pilot; however, due to the condition of the remains, a thorough examination could not be conducted. It could not be determined if an impairing condition or natural disease contributed to the accident. Some, or all, of the ethanol detected by toxicological testing may have been from postmortem production; however, the limited results also do not exclude the possibility of ethanol consumption or related impairment. Additionally, the pilot’s toxicology results indicate that he had used multiple medications (including hydrocodone, citalopram, zolpidem, gabapentin, and amitriptyline) that are potentially impairing and/or potentially indicative of other medical conditions (such as depression, chronic pain, or medication-treated diabetes) that could have impairing effects on performance. The airplane’s descending right turn, along with the near-vertical impact signatures, were consistent with an inflight loss of control from which the pilot was unable to recover.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.