On September 17, 2019, a Vans RV 8 Undesignat was involved in an aviation accident near Stroudsburg, PA. 2 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane for undetermined reasons. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An experimental Vans RV-8 was destroyed in a fatal accident near Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, on September 17, 2019. The pilot and passenger were killed during a demonstration flight.
Accident Overview and Flight History On September 17, 2019, at 1218 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Vans RV-8 airplane was destroyed in an accident near Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. The private pilot and a pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. The aircraft was operating as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the Pennsylvania State Police, the pilot was conducting a demonstration flight for the passenger, who was interested in purchasing a share of the airplane. The flight departed Pegasus Air Park (50PA) at approximately 1215 and was intended to be a 30-minute local flight. When the aircraft did not return, the pilot's family reported it missing. The wreckage was located the following day in wetlands on private property about 3 miles east-northeast of the airport. Radar data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) showed a target at 1216:20 on an easterly heading about 2.3 miles east of 50PA, moving at 113 knots at an altitude of about 1,300 feet above ground level (agl). The target continued east before making a left 180° turn to the west at 1217:27 at 1,700 ft agl and 122 knots. Over the next 24 seconds, the target accelerated to 199 knots and descended to 1,600 ft agl. At 1218:06, radar contact was lost with the aircraft heading 258° at 191 knots. The altitude was not recorded. Witness accounts indicated the engine was loud and sounded as if at maximum power, with sounds lasting 15 to 30 seconds before abruptly ceasing, followed by a thud. The builder/co-owner noted the pilot was known to perform low-g aerobatics such as aileron rolls and that the aircraft's nose tended to drop fast after about 90° of roll to the right unless the nose was raised high enough before entering the roll. The builder stated he only rolled the aircraft to the left. ## Personnel Information The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane. His last FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on October 16, 2018. Logbook entries between 1991 and 2017 showed large gaps in time. The pilot's total flight experience was about 1,614.9 hours, including 170.8 hours in the accident airplane. He reported 1,845 total flight hours at his last medical. The passenger held an airline transport pilot certificate with a rating for airplane multi-engine land, with commercial privileges for airplane single-engine land and sea. His last FAA first-class medical certificate was issued on October 5, 2018. ## Wreckage and Impact Information The airplane was located about 1/4-mile northwest of the last recorded radar return. It impacted heavily-wooded wetlands on private property in a nose-down attitude and was embedded in 6 ft of mud. The aircraft was extensively fragmented with no post-impact fire. All major components of the airplane and engine were recovered. The canopy's locking mechanism/handle was found in the closed/latched position, and the metal post onto which the canopy's locking hook secured appeared undamaged. Flight control continuity was established from the flight control surfaces to the cockpit area. Both control sticks were broken from their respective bases. The front cockpit was heavily fragmented and crushed aft. The throttle was found full forward, the propeller control about 3/4 forward, and the mixture control in the full rich position. Both wings remained attached to the center carry-through spar and exhibited extensive leading edge impact damage. The right wing was fragmented, and the left wing sustained extensive impact damage. The top section of the aft fuselage behind the aft cockpit area separated in an approximate 8-ft section. The tail section included both horizontal stabilizers, elevators, the vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The two-bladed propeller remained attached to the engine, with both blades exhibiting rearward bending, chordwise scratching, leading edge gouges, and curled tips. The engine sustained impact damage, and the crankcase was cracked. Examination of the airplane and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation at the time of impact. ## Medical and Pathological Information An autopsy of the pilot was conducted by Forensic Pathology Associates, determining the cause of death to be multiple blunt force injuries. Toxicology testing identified ethanol and atenolol in the pilot's kidney and muscle tissue. An autopsy of the pilot-rated passenger was also conducted by Forensic Pathology Associates, determining the cause of death to be multiple blunt force injuries. Toxicology testing identified ethanol in the pilot-rated passenger's muscle tissue.