Ray Aerial Spraying 773 RACER N773RY

Summary

On 30 June 2011 at about 22:33 local time, a Ray Aerial Spraying 773 RACER registered N773RY was involved in an accident near Ottumwa, Iowa, 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

30 June 2011 at 22:33

Classification

Accident

Location

Ottumwa, Iowa, United States

Nearest airport

Ottumwa Regional Airport (OTM)

Coordinates

41.0098, -92.4101

Aircraft

Ray Aerial Spraying 773 RACER

Registration

N773RY

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ottumwa → Hedrick

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11FA436

1 person died.

The loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airplane’s engine and ignition system did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, and extensive postaccident fire damage precluded evaluation of the airplane’s fuel system components.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A witness reported that he saw the accident airplane on a crosswind leg for the runway when the nose suddenly went down and the pilot began to maneuver toward the runway. Wreckage path evidence, the location of the initial impact, and a witness statement suggested that the pilot of the amateur-built airplane was making a short, left-hand approach to the runway but had insufficient altitude to reach the paved runway surface. The airplane impacted a berm about 650 feet left of the approach end of the runway, travelled an additional 250 feet, and erupted into flames. Examination of the airplane’s engine, and ignition system revealed no evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction. Examination of the airplane’s fuel system was not possible due to the extensive fire damage, and no determination of the preimpact condition of the fuel system components could be made. Examination of the airplane’s propeller showed damage consistent with engine rotation with minimal power applied at impact. The witness report, wreckage path evidence, and propeller damage were consistent with an attempt to land the airplane following a loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.