Cirrus VK30 N44VK

Summary

On 22 March 1996 at about 18:20 local time, a Cirrus VK30 registered N44VK was involved in an accident near Duluth, Minnesota, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 March 1996 at 18:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Duluth, Minnesota, United States

Coordinates

46.8405, -92.2197

Aircraft

Cirrus VK30

Registration

N44VK

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI96FA116

1 person died.

the inadequate handling/performance design capabilities of the airplane which resulted in the inability to recover from an aft center of gravity spin. Factors were the lack of any antispin or deep stall recovery devices, and the aft center of gravity.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of N44VK was attempting to verify stall characteristics at the aft center of gravity limit. The pilot of a chase plane and an on board video confirmed that N44VK departed controlled flight. Recovery from the uncontrolled flight was not made prior to impact with the terrain. The airplane came to rest in an upright position with a descent angle measured at 77 degrees. All airframe components recovered were found within 30 feet of the main wreckage. The airplane was not equipped with any antispin or deep stall recovery devices. The investigation revealed flight control continuity. Indications of engine power at impact were evident throughout the engine, propeller, and drive shaft.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.