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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

July 17, 1994 · Black RV-4 · N144US

Twisp, WA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 17, 1994
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Twisp, WA
Aircraft
Black RV-4
Tail Number
N144US
Operator
Kefton O Black
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA94LA184

THE PILOT OF THE AMATEUR-BUILT EXPERIMENTAL BLACK RV-4 SAID THAT 'THE BOTTOM DROPPED OUT' WHEN HE WAS ON APPROACH FOR LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR AFTER A HARD LANDING, WITH ITS THROTTLE AND MIXTURE CONTROL JAMMED. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING THE HARD LANDING, TO ANOTHER AIRPORT AND SUCCESSFULLY LAND.

NTSB Probable Cause

PROPER DESCENT RATE WAS NOT MAINTAINED DURING APPROACH.

Full Narrative

On July 17, 1994, approximately 1120 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Black RV-4, N144US, sustained substantial damage while landing at Twisp, Washington. The private pilot, who owned the aircraft and was the sole occupant, was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed for the flight from Methow Valley Airport, Winthrop, Washington. The pilot, who built the aircraft and had approximately 800 hours in the aircraft, stated that on short final the "bottom dropped out," and the aircraft landed hard, bending the gear and engine mount, and buckled the firewall. The wing was also damaged by impact with a fence post that was apparently near the runway threshold. The pilot stated that the aircraft ended up back in the air. He did not know if he pushed the throttle forward during the impact sequence, but he had a stuck throttle and mixture control. He said that he flew the aircraft back to Methow Valley Airport and landed successfully.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:20 PDT
Nearest AirportTwisp Municipal (0nm)
Runway28
Runway Length2700 ft
Runway Width40 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBlack RV-4
Tail NumberN144US
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorKefton O Black
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E2D · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 50 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind360° @ 5 kt, gusting 10 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Observation Time18:20
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data