Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Unknown, Arizona 86434
Friday, March 11, 2011 8:20 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Prior to making an early morning departure, the pilot stated in a telephone conversation that he was going to kill himself. He then departed his home airport and flew to another airport, where he took on fuel. Soon after departing that airport in visual meteorological conditions, the airplane's transponder stopped transmitting, and only primary radar returns were recorded on radar. About 10 minutes after departure, the airplane disappeared completely from radar. Neither the airplane, nor the pilot, have been located, and the airplane is assumed to have crashed.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The aircraft is missing and the cause of the accident is undetermined.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/11/2011
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 820
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Unknown
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 86434
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 361013N
Event Location Longitude 1121623W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 854 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KGCN
Elevation of weather observation facility 6600
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.17
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
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) 29053
NTSB Notification Source Glendale, Arizona, Police Depa
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 7 2011 2:34PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N650RV
NTSB Number WPR11FAMS1
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name RADFORD
Aircraft Model RV-6
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 23971
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name RADFORD JOSEPH R
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City PEORIA
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85345-1071
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name RADFORD JOSEPH R
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City PEORIA
Operator State AZ
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 85345-1071
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code KGCN
Departure City Tysayan
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 820
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City UNKNOWN
Destination State --
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 7 2011 2:29PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --