Pilot Debrief

HARDEN RV-7 near Elim, AK — 2009-06-10

Final reportANC09FA052
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Date
2009-06-10
Location
Elim, AK, USA
Aircraft
HARDEN RV-7
Registration
N303BK
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
2
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain.

Contributing factors

Findings Personnel issues Qualification/certification - Pilot Personnel issues Decision making/judgment - Pilot Environmental issues Fog - Contributed to outcome Environmental issues Low visibility - Contributed to outcome

NTSB narrative

The pilot departed on a visual flight rules cross-country flight on a route that passed near a small coastal town and uncontrolled airport. Witnesses at the coastal town reported low clouds, fog, and poor visibility in the area just before the accident. They also saw and heard an airplane flying very low over their town, which was at a lower elevation than the airport. One witness estimated that the airplane was only a few feet above power lines, or about 30 feet above ground level. The witnesses noted that the airplane flew over the airport and village twice and, during the last pass, turned north toward the top of a hill and the crash site. They indicated that the engine sound was steady. Data from a global positioning system unit found in the wreckage depicted the airplane's track from departure to the accident site. Near the accident airport, the track was along a meandering path that crossed itself and had several course reversals. Images from weather cameras at the accident airport indicated that the visibility was less than 1 mile. The pilot did not have an instrument rating. No record was found that the pilot had received a weather briefing prior to the flight. A postaccident inspection of the airplane disclosed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical anomalies. Given the poor weather conditions, witness reports, the meandering flight path near the airport, the pilot's lack of an instrument rating, and the absence of any mechanical problems with the airplane, it is likely the pilot flew into instrument meteorological weather conditions while attempting to locate the runway and collided with rising terrain near the airport.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
VFR into IMC
First missed decision gate
Pilot did not obtain a weather briefing before flight.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • ADS-B / radar
  • Photos
  • 16 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents16

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