Pilot Debrief

LANGSTON, FREDERICK L RV 4 near Boerne, TX — 2014-10-28

Final reportCEN15FA032
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Date
2014-10-28
Location
Boerne, TX, USA
Airport
7TA8
Aircraft
LANGSTON, FREDERICK L RV 4
Registration
N70PM
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined, because post accident examination did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot was flying his experimental, amateur-built airplane at an altitude between 500 and 800 ft above ground level when several witnesses heard the engine sounds suddenly stop. The airplane then entered a steep bank toward a nearby airstrip, descended, and disappeared from view. The airplane impacted thickly-wooded, rocky terrain and came to rest upright about 100 ft from the edge of the runway. Although the airplane was destroyed by post-crash fire, examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the formation of carburetor icing at cruise power and a potential for serious carburetor icing at glide power; however, it could not be determined if or to what extent the engine may have accumulated carburetor ice.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have chosen to land at a nearby airport instead of continuing to maneuver.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 11 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents11

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