John V Rawson Jr SPRINT II N505CR

Summary

On 21 May 2014 at about 21:43 local time, a John V Rawson Jr SPRINT II registered N505CR, operated by Rawson John V JR, was involved in an accident near Princeton, New Jersey, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 May 2014 at 21:43

Classification

Accident

Location

Princeton, New Jersey, United States

Nearest airport

Princeton (39N)

Coordinates

40.3992, -74.6589

Aircraft

John V Rawson Jr SPRINT II

Registration

N505CR

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Rawson John V JR

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Princeton → Princeton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA14LA254

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during the approach to land. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s unfamiliarity with and lack of training in the accident airplane make and model.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The owner/builder of the experimental amateur-built amphibious airplane, who did not possess a flight instructor certificate, departed on a flight with the accident pilot, who did not hold a seaplane rating. After conducting three takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern, the owner allowed the pilot to take the airplane on a solo flight. The pilot reported that he completed one circuit around the traffic pattern for his first approach to landing and that he lost airplane control because the airplane began an uncommanded left turn on final approach despite his applying full right rudder and aileron. The pilot circled the airplane around for a second final approach, but the airplane continued in a descending left turn and subsequently impacted trees and terrain. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions. Federal Aviation Administration-published guidance on flying seaplanes equipped with engines mounted above the center of gravity "strongly urged" pilots to obtain training specific to the make and model of the seaplane to be flown because their unique handling characteristics were "not intuitive and must be learned." The pilot only had 1 hour of experience in the accident airplane make and model. The owner was operating the airplane outside of its operating limitations by flying it outside its assigned geographic area and by taking the accident pilot flying with him on a short flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.