VFR into IMC · NTSB ERA09LA392
NOLES VANCE L VANS RV7A — Sanderson, FL
| Date | July 8, 2009 |
| Location | Sanderson, FL |
| Aircraft | NOLES VANCE L VANS RV7A (amateur-built) |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Instrument Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Prior to flight Preflight or dispatch event |
| Pilot age | 71 |
| Pilot total time | 665 hrs · Building experience |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Convective weather-Thunderstorm-Awareness of condition
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Convective weather-Thunderstorm-Effect on equipment
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Planning/preparation-Weather planning-Pilot - F
- Aircraft-Aircraft structures-Empennage structure-Ventral struc (on vert stab)-Not specified
- Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Qualification/certification-Pilot
- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action selection-Pilot - C
What happened
The non-instrument-rated pilot departed on a visual flight rules flight without obtaining a weather briefing. Review of Doppler radar obtained from the National Weather Service depicted two bands of thunderstorms over northern Florida, the first running east-to-west and the other running northeast-to-southwest along central and western Florida. Recorded radar data showed the accident airplane's flight track approaching the band of thunderstorms, turning northeast and parallel to the weather, and then passing between the two weather areas. The flight track then turns back northwestward and penetrates the area of thunderstorms. A witness stated that the clouds in the vicinity of the crash site were overcast about 200 feet with light rain and distant thunder. Examination of the airplane revealed the vertical stabilizer and rudders separated and were not located. Examination of a tail cone section revealed fracture surfaces on the front and rear spar, and the rear doubler assembly exhibited slant-fracture features consistent with ductile overload due to exceeding the design limits. There was no evidence of preexisting damage due to fatigue or corrosion.