Valley Adventurers ADVENTURER 333 N323VA

Summary

On 5 August 1997 at about 14:45 local time, a Valley Adventurers ADVENTURER 333 registered N323VA was involved in an accident near Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, 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

5 August 1997 at 14:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, United States

Coordinates

43.7691, -88.4392

Aircraft

Valley Adventurers ADVENTURER 333

Registration

N323VA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Oshkosh → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI97FA248

1 person died.

The kit manufacturer's use of inadequate material in construction of the airplane, his inadequate application of quality controls resulting in the debonding of the horizontal stabilizer. Factors were the total loss of the horizontal stabilizer, the elevator, the rudder, both wings, and a partial loss of the vertical stabilizer, and wing struts.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane had been on display at the Experimental Aircraft Association's annual convention in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, about 14 miles north of the accident site, for several days prior to the accident flight. It was determined that no flights of the airplane had occurred in the intervening period between the arrival at Oshkosh and the accident flight. The flight initiated on the day of the accident was for the purpose of returning the airplane to Arkansas. While in-flight, the airplane suffered the loss of the horizontal stabilizer, elevator, rudder, both wings, and a portion of the vertical stabilizer. Subsequent to the accident an examination of the structure revealed insufficient material attaching the horizontal stabilizer to the vertical stabilizer. An examination of six other similar airplanes under construction found evidence of a lack of quality controls in manufacturing, technique, failure to follow published construction manuals and guidelines, and general oversight by the kit supplier/manufacturer. The kits were supplied and/or manufactured by single manufacturer.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.