Santa Ynez Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Santa Ynez, California 93460
Sunday, May 12, 2002 16:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The amateur-built airplane collided with the ground during an attempted go-around from runway 26. The pilot reported he was on final approach when a gust of wind caused the airplane to balloon up. He elected to go-around and added full power, then retracted the flaps. During this time, the airplane was drifting off the left side of the runway. The pilot stated that the airplane "apparently stalled" and settled to the ground. The left wing contacted the ground, followed by the airplane's nose. He estimated that the winds were from 260 degrees at 10 mph, with gusts from 15 to 20 mph. The pilot stated he had recently purchased the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the pilot to maintain sufficient airspeed during the attempted go-around resulting in a stall/mush. The gusting winds, recent purchase of airplane, and premature raising of the flaps were factors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/12/2002
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1615
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Santa Ynez
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93460
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 343625N
Event Location Longitude 1230432W
Event Location Airport Santa Ynez
Event Location Nearest Airport ID IZA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.25
Degrees magnetic from airport 86
Airport Elevation 670
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1615 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 280
Weather Observation Facility ID KLPC
Elevation of weather observation facility 87
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.1
Density Altitude (feet) 1138
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14054
NTSB Notification Source
NTSB Notification Date May 12 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1745
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 30 2003 9:55AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-FSDO-Van Nuys, CA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6579B
NTSB Number LAX02LA160
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Mulligan
Aircraft Model RV4
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number --
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 Aug 5 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 360
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Howard R. Harvey
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Santa Ynez
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93460
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code KIZA
Departure City Santa Ynez
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1545
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Go-around (VFR)
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jul 22 2003 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 26
Runway Length 2804
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --