Pilot Debrief

Vans RV8 near Mandan, ND — 2020-06-13

Final reportCEN20LA227
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Date
2020-06-13
Location
Mandan, ND, USA
Airport
Y19
Aircraft
Vans RV8
Registration
N836JC
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to remove the seat belt used as a flight control lock from the aft cockpit control stick before takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control during takeoff and collision with terrain.

NTSB narrative

While the airplane was parked on the ramp before the flight, a witness noted that the aft cockpit seatbelt was wrapped around the control stick to secure the flight control surfaces; the conditions at the airport at the time were described by a second witness as "very windy." The first witness reminded the pilot to remove the belt before departure. Both witnesses noted that the airplane's elevator was up as the airplane taxied out for departure. The airplane's takeoff ground roll was short, and as the airplane became airborne, it entered a steep climb to about 50 ft above the ground, rolled left, then entered a vertical descent to ground contact. The witnesses noted that the airplane's elevator was in the full up position at the accident site and as the fire continued, the elevator slowly lowered. Postaccident examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. The seat belt webbing was not identified in the charred cockpit. Given the available information, it is likely that the pilot, seated in the front cockpit of the tandem-configured airplane, failed to remove the seat belt from the aft control stick before departure, resulting in a loss of control during the initial climb and subsequent impact with terrain. The elevator likely lowered as the webbing material melted due to the fire.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot should have removed the seatbelt from the control stick before departure.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Video
  • Photos
  • 12 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents12

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