Kircher RV-8 N505DF

Summary

On 21 August 2005 at about 16:00 local time, a Kircher RV-8 registered N505DF was involved in an accident near Menomonie, 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

21 August 2005 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Menomonie, Wisconsin, United States

Nearest airport

Score Field (LUM)

Coordinates

44.8922, -91.8678

Aircraft

Kircher RV-8

Registration

N505DF

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Menomonie → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI05LA237

1 person died.

The pilot's decision to perform an aerobatic roll during takeoff, the low altitude, and his failure to maintain clearance from the crops and terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The experimental amateur-built airplane was destroyed on impact with terrain following a takeoff from runway 27. Reports stated the pilot flew the airplane to the airport to give rides in it. After receiving their rides, the passengers watched the airplane depart. The passengers at the airport witnessed the airplane climb out, enter a roll, and get half way through the roll before the airplane descended below the tops of a corn crop. The recorded wind was 280 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 15 knots. Trees were obstructions listed for runway 27 and an irrigation system was listed as the controlling obstruction in the remarks for runway 27. The aircraft came to rest inverted in a cornfield. An on-scene inspection revealed no pre-impact anomalies. Federal Aviation Regulation Part 91.303, in part, stated, "Aerobatic flight. No person may operate an aircraft in aerobatic flight- ... (c) Within the lateral boundaries of the surface areas of Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E airspace designated for an airport; (d) Within 4 nautical miles of the center line of any Federal airway; (e) Below an altitude of 1,500 feet above the surface; or ... For the purposes of this section, aerobatic flight means an intentional maneuver involving an abrupt change in an aircraft's attitude, an abnormal attitude, or abnormal acceleration, not necessary for normal flight."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.