Pinkston Randy T RV-7 N705RP

Summary

On 18 February 2016 at about 23:15 local time, a Pinkston Randy T RV-7 registered N705RP was involved in an accident near Tavernier, Florida, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 February 2016 at 23:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Tavernier, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Tavernaero Park (FA81)

Coordinates

25.0017, -80.5369

Aircraft

Pinkston Randy T RV-7

Registration

N705RP

Category

Airplane

Year built

2005

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Marco Island → Tavernier

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

GAA16LA135

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's misidentification of a parallel roadway for the runway and the airplane's subsequent collision with numerous objects during landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot was landing the experimental, amateur-built airplane at a residential airpark. Immediately following the accident, a state trooper interviewed the pilot, who stated that the landing was his first one at the residential airpark and that he thought that the side road was the runway. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical or weather issues as he was attempting to land. The airplane struck three mailboxes, a basketball hoop, phone lines, and a car and then came to rest inverted.  In a later statement, the pilot reported that, during landing, he noticed a car off the side of the runway on a parallel access road. He was concerned with the proximity of the car to his intended landing area, and he executed a go-around. With dusk approaching, he decided to make an "abbreviated" traffic pattern and "circle back around" to land on the runway. He applied full power, began the turn, and reported that the engine "backfired." The airplane did not climb normally, and as the pilot turned the airplane, it was unable to gain sufficient altitude for the pilot to maintain sight of the runway. Given the pilot's statement, it is likely that he misidentified the parallel access road for the runway and, upon landing, hit multiple obstacles.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.