Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grand Ridge, Florida 32442
Friday, August 27, 1993 13:47 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Pilot reported to ATC that he was descending from 13,500 feet to 11,500 feet. When passing 11,500 feet the pilot reported he was descending to 9,500 feet. No further communication was made with the pilot. Radar data showed the aircraft descended normally until passing 10,000 feet. At that point the aircraft descended rapidly and was lost from radar at 5,200 feet. Eyewitnesses observed the aircraft in normal flight at about 10,000 feet. The aircraft's wing rocked back and forth and the aircraft then nosed over and descended vertically with the engine operating at high rpm until ground impact. Postcrash examination of the aircraft revealed all components necessary for flight were located on or around the main wreckage. No evidence to indicate precrash failure or malfunction of the aircraft structure, flight controls, or engine was found. No evidence of in-flight bird contact was found. The aircraft kit manufacturer reported that he has not seen any stability or control problems that would cause uncontrolled vertical descent. The pilot was reported to be in good health and good spirits before the flight.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

UNDETERMINED.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/27/1993
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1347
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City GRAND RIDGE
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32442
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1450 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 130
Weather Observation Facility ID TLH
Elevation of weather observation facility 81
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 42
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 33
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1800
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1774
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 27 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:34PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N220KM
NTSB Number MIA93FA184
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name REHER, KENT O.
Aircraft Model RV 6
Aircraft Series Identifier RV 6
Aircraft Serial Number 20787
Certified Max Gross Weight 1650
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 1 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 122
Airframe Hours 387
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name REHER, KENT O.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2425 NE 26TH STREET
Aircraft Owner City LIGHTHOUSE PT.
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33064
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MOB
Departure City MOBILE
Departure State AL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1237
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PMP
Destination City POMPANO BEACH
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --