Stall / Spin · NTSB CEN10LA276
COVELL KEVIN SCOTT VANS RV-4 — Collinsville, OK
| Date | May 29, 2010 |
| Location | Collinsville, OK |
| Aircraft | COVELL KEVIN SCOTT VANS RV-4 (amateur-built) |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Emergency descent Aerodynamic stall/spin |
| Pilot age | 49 |
| Pilot total time | 9,999 hrs · High time |
| Time in type | 330 hrs |
| Fatalities | 2 |
Probable cause
A loss of engine power shortly after takeoff for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to make a 180-degree turn at low level.
NTSB findings
- Not determined-Not determined-(general)-(general)-Unknown/Not determined - C
- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action selection-Pilot
What happened
Shortly after takeoff, when the airplane was approximately 150 feet off the ground, the engine lost power. The pilot elected to make a 180-degree turn back to the airstrip to conduct the forced landing. During the turn, the airplane’s wing and nosed dropped and the airplane impacted terrain in a nearby pasture. A postcrash fire consumed a majority of airplane’s cabin/cockpit and the engine area sustained heat damage. A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine failed to identify a reason for the loss of engine power.