Pfeifler EDGE-540 N540SH
7 October 2003 · Warrenton, Virginia, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 7 October 2003 at about 20:10 local time, a Pfeifler EDGE-540 registered N540SH was involved in an accident near Warrenton, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 20:10
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Warrenton, Virginia, United States
- Nearest airport
- Warrenton-Fauquier (W66)
- Coordinates
- 38.5869, -77.7111
- Aircraft
- Pfeifler EDGE-540
- Registration
- N540SH
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Warrenton → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC04LA004
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while performing aerobatic maneuvers.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot was practicing aerobatics for an upcoming air show. The airplane was observed in a vertical climb, followed by a downward spiral. The airplane then leveled off, and entered a flat spin, before it pitched down and impacted the ground. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. The airplane had been operated for about 520 hours at the time of it's most recent condition inspection, which was performed about 3 weeks prior to the accident. The airplane had been operated for about 23 hours since the inspection. The pilot purchased the airplane about 8 months prior to the accident, and possessed a current statement of acrobatic competency.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Nov 2003 | Northam RAF 2000 | Nelsonia, Virginia, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 18 Jan 2003 | Cessna 172 | Chesapeake, Virginia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 Mar 2003 | Mooney M20R | Leesburg, Virginia, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 9 May 2003 | Cessna 140 | Suffolk, Virginia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 7 May 2003 | Boeing B767-300 | New Market, Virginia, United States | United Airlines | Serious injuries | - |
| 7 Oct 2003 | Cessna 140 | Ridegway, Virginia, United States | - | No injuries | - |