Goodwin RANS S-4 N495J

Summary

On 16 June 1997 at about 00:30 local time, a Goodwin RANS S-4 registered N495J was involved in an accident near Cedar Bluff, Virginia, 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

16 June 1997 at 00:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Cedar Bluff, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Private Airport (NONE)

Coordinates

37.5192, -79.6799

Aircraft

Goodwin RANS S-4

Registration

N495J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Richlands

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC97LA116

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during the initial takeoff climb which resulted in an inadvertent stall. A related factor was the pilot's lack of familiarity with the airplane.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was observed to enter a right turn and abruptly pitch down during the initial climb after takeoff. The airplane then impacted the ground. Examination of the wreckage did not disclose evidence of mechanical malfunctions. The pilot had not flown in the previous 30 days, and had flown about 2 hours during the previous 90 days. This was the pilot's first flight in make and model.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.