What happened
On August 21, 2022, an experimental amateur-built Vans RV-8, registration N184DJ, crashed near Scio, Oregon, resulting in 2 fatal injuries. The aircraft departed Albany Municipal Airport (S12) at approximately 13:53 and flew toward the home of the pilot's relatives to perform aerobatic maneuvers.
Witnesses observed the aircraft make three passes over the residence. During the third pass, the aircraft was flying at an altitude of approximately 100 feet above the ground, traveling from north to south, when it entered a maneuver described as a barrel roll. Witnesses noted the maneuver appeared "snappy" and that the aircraft was lower than usual. The aircraft then descended behind trees and impacted the ground. A witness video captured the aircraft in a nose-up attitude through trees before it descended at a 45-degree nose-low angle into the terrain.
The investigation
Data recovered from the onboard Dynon SV-D1000 unit confirmed the flight path and showed no engine anomalies. Witnesses also reported the engine sounded steady and normal prior to the impact.
Examination of the wreckage showed the aircraft impacted a grass field in a nose-low and right-wing-low attitude. The main wreckage was found inverted. The right wing was mostly separated from the fuselage, and the propeller assembly had separated from the engine at the shaft. While flight control continuity was established for most surfaces, the right aileron control tube was fractured near the wing root, which was consistent with impact damage.
No evidence of preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction was found. Toxicology testing of the pilot revealed the presence of THC-COOH (an inactive cannabis metabolite) in the heart blood and lung tissue, but no active THC was found in the blood. Diphenhydramine was also detected in the liver tissue, but no diphenhydramine was found in the blood.