14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, July 11, 2012 in Moscow, TN
Probable Cause Approval Date: 12/02/2013
Aircraft: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR20, registration: N764RV
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The non-instrument rated pilot departed on a personal flight in instrument meteorological conditions with no flight plan filed. An employee at the departure airport who talked with the accident pilot before he took off reported that the pilot stated he was in a "hurry to depart due to possible bad weather in the area." A review of radar data indicated that the accident airplane flew at a relatively constant altitude of about 1,000 feet mean sea level (msl) for about 25 minutes after takeoff. The data showed that the radar target then began to climb, with intermittent descents of 100 to 200 feet. The last recorded radar return indicated an airplane altitude of 2,600 feet msl. Postaccident analysis of the airplane’s position information showed that last 10 seconds of recorded data exhibited a steadily increasing rate of descent; the last 2 seconds of data recorded a 5,000-foot-per-minute rate of descent that increased to a 15,000 foot-per-minute rate of descent. The airplane’s roll rate during the last 10 seconds of recorded data varied from a 24-degree roll to the right to a 28-degree roll to the left. Additionally, the recorded flight data showed that the airplane’s ground speed reached about 140 knots then it decreased to about 20 knots during the last 2 seconds of the flight.
Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A review of weather information and witness statements revealed that conditions at the time of the accident would have likely produced restricted visibility. It is likely that the presence of restricted visibility conditions and the airplane’s abrupt turns just before the accident would have been conducive to the development of spatial disorientation. Therefore, the airplane’s ensuing rapid descent and steep bank angle likely resulted from the pilot losing control of the airplane due to spatial disorientation.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The non-instrument rated pilot’s decision to continue visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his spatial disorientation, a loss of airplane control, and subsequent impact with trees and terrain.
HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On July 11, 2012, about 0852 central daylight time, a Cirrus SR20, N764RV, was substantially damaged from tree and terrain impact near Moscow, Tennessee. The airplane was registered to Vaughn Aviation LLC and operated by an individual, under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91, as a personal flight. The non-instrument rated pilot was fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Millington Regional Jetport Airport (NQA), Millington, Tennessee, about 0825, with the intended destination of Pensacola Regional Airport (PNS), Pensacola, Florida.
According to an employee at NQA who talked to the pilot prior to departing on the accident flight, the pilot stated that he was in a "hurry to depart due to possible bad weather in the area." In addition, there was a weather briefing station located inside the fixed based operator at the departure airport; however, no airport personnel recalled the pilot using it on the day of the accident.
A review of radar data provided by Memphis Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) indicated that a radar target identified as the accident airplane flew for about 25 minutes after takeoff from NQA at a relatively constant altitude of about 1,000 feet mean sea level (msl). Then, the radar target began to climb at 0849:55 with intermittent descents of one to two hundred feet. The last radar return at 0852:27 indicated an altitude of 2,600 feet msl, which was in the vicinity of the accident location.
Several witnesses around the accident site heard the “engine revving up” before the sound of an explosion. Smoke was seen coming from an open meadow area and the authorities were notified of a possible airplane crash. One witness, located approximately one-third of a mile southwest of the accident site, observed the airplane descending, at a wings level attitude. The airplane was about 100 feet above the ground when it caught his attention. The airplane was traveling at high rate of speed and flying from the west to the northeast moments before the explosion was heard. Authorities and first responders reported low cloud ceilings and drizzling rain around the time of the accident.
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
The pilot, age 48, held a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) private pilot certificate with rating for airplane single-engine land. He was issued a third-class medical certificate on July 28, 2010, with no limitations. At that time he reported a total time of 285 flight hours. On an insurance form dated in July 2011, he reported 340 total flight hours, of which, 280 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane.
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
The airplane was a four-seat, fixed tricycle landing gear airplane that was manufactured in 2006. It was equipped with a Teledyne Continental, 210-horsepower, IO-360-ES, horizontally-opposed six-cylinder engine. Review of the airplane logbooks revealed that the last annual inspection was conducted on August 13, 2011, at a recorded time of 422.3 total hours.
METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION
Around the time of departure, the NQA 0835 recorded weather observation indicated variable wind at 4 knots; visibility 6 statute miles, mist, overcast clouds at 900 feet above ground level (agl), temperature 24 degrees C; dew point 22 degrees C; altimeter 29.99.
The 0854 recorded weather observation at Memphis International Airport (MEM), located approximately 29 miles west of the accident location, included wind from 080 degrees at 7 knots, 9 miles visibility, overcast clouds at 600 feet agl, temperature 24 degrees C, dew point 22 degrees C; barometric altimeter 29.99 inches of mercury.
The GOES-13 infrared image for 0902 CDT image depicted a large area of low stratiform clouds over the accident site with cloud tops near 8,000 feet. In addition, the image depicted multiple layers of clouds over the area that produced an overcast cloud cover of stratiform clouds over the region and the accident site. Cumulus congestus type clouds associated with vertical development and rain showers can be identified east, with additional development southwest of Memphis.
There were a significant number of pilot reports made in the vicinity of McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport (MKL), Jackson, Tennessee, which was 41 nautical miles north east of the accident location, and reported overcast clouds with bases between 1,200 and 1,600 feet msl (or approximately 800 and 1,200 feet agl) with tops between 2,000 and 5,000 feet msl surrounding the period.
WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION
The aircraft struck trees and impacted terrain on the edge of an open meadow on an estimated 035-degree heading. The airplane’s initial collision was with the top of an approximately 40 foot tall tree, with a ground elevation of 498 feet msl. The airplane impacted terrain about 70 feet beyond the impacted tree. The descent angle between the tree and terrain equated to about 60-degrees. The initial ground impact crater measured approximately 6 feet square and consisted of a ground scar approximately 20-feet-wide by 15-feet-long, which were consistent in size and dimension to the right leading edge of the wing, the right main landing gear, and left main landing gear. This was also consistent with a right wing low attitude at impact. The debris field extended outward approximately 115 feet-wide by 480 feet-long from the crater.
The engine was encased in three individual cowling pieces. The upper engine cowling, which was located in the debris field, exhibited impact damage. The left and right engine cowlings were not located. Several large fragments of the fuselage skin were located in the debris field. The left and right cabin doors were separated from the fuselage and fractured into several pieces. All of the seats were separated from the fuselage. Both airbag seatbelts, installed on the front seats, were deployed.
Several sections of the upper and lower wing skins were located in the debris field. All flight control surfaces were separated from the wing. The separated wing spar was located in the debris field. The aileron control cable was separated from the wing. The roll trim motor was located in full right roll trim position. The flap actuator was located and correlated to the flaps “UP” position.
The nose landing gear assembly was separated from the engine mount and located in the debris field. The left and right main landing gear assemblies were separated from the wing and were located in the debris field.
The vertical stabilizer was separated from the fuselage. The rudder remained attached to the vertical stabilizer. The horizontal stabilizer was separated from the fuselage. The left and right elevators remained attached to the horizontal stabilizer. The pitch trim motor was located in an approximate neutral pitch trim position.
The on-site examination of the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) components reveled evidence consistent with a CAPS activation that was due to ground impact forces. The CAPS safety pin was not installed in the handle and was not located. The activation handle was found separated from the cable in the debris field. The activation cable remained intact from the handle holder to the firing pin actuator. The rocket motor was separate from the D-Bag with the rocket motor expended. The packed parachute assembly was found extracted from the airplane. The packed parachute was found in the D-Bag and all harnesses remained attached.
The inspection of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have prevented the ability to produce rated horsepower. The engine was separated from the airframe and located approximately 10 feet from the cockpit. The throttle cable remained attached to the engine and exhibited damage. The engine was found inverted and the oil sump was fractured from the engine. The propeller and forward section of the engine crankshaft were separated from the engine and located approximately 10 feet forward and to the left of the engine. The forward portion of the crankcase and lower, aft portion of the crankcase exhibited damage consistent with impact forces. All of the cylinders remained attached to the crankcase. All engine accessories, except the propeller governor and starter adaptor, were separated from the engine and located in the debris field. All damage observed was consistent with impact forces.
MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Memphis, Tennessee, conducted an autopsy on the pilot on July 12, 2012. The autopsy findings included "multiple blunt traumatic injuries," and the report listed the specific injuries.
Forensic toxicology was performed on specimens from the pilot by the FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The toxicology report stated no ethanol or drugs were detected.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Multi-Function Display and Primary Function Display
A multi-function display (MFD) and primary flight display (PFD) were recovered from the cockpit and forwarded to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory, Washington, DC, for data download. Due to the excessive damage and fragmentation of the memory devices, no viable data was extracted from the MFD or PFD.
Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System
An enhanced ground proximity warning system (EGPWS) was also retained by the NTSB for data download. A review of the data revealed that heading, GPS position, GPS altitude, and vertical speed were recorded. Ground speed was derived from aircraft position information. The highest recorded altitude of the airplane was about 2700 feet msl, which was about 10 seconds prior to the end of the recording. In addition, the last 10 seconds of recorded data exhibits a steadily increasing negative vertical speed rate. The last two seconds of recorded data indicated a 5,000 foot per minute descent up to a 15,000 foot per minute descent. The roll rate of the airplane in the last 10 seconds of recorded data varied from a 24 degree roll to the right to a 28 degree roll to the left. The recorded ground speed peaks 2 seconds prior to the end of the recorded data around 140 knots, and then decreases to 20 knots in two seconds.
According to the downloaded data, the airplane experienced two EGPWS alerts during the accident sequence. A Mode 1 “Sink Rate” caution occurred at system time 511:53:35. A Mode 1 “Pull Up” warning occurred at system time 511:53:36. According to the manufacturer's pilot's guide:
“Initially, the voice alert “Sink Rate” will be heard, and the yellow caution alert annunciator lamp will illuminate. If the aircraft continues in the high rate of descent, the “Sink Rate-Sink Rate” voice alert will be repeated at an increasing frequency. Should the aircraft penetrate the warning boundary, the voice alert “Pull Up” will be heard continuously and the red warning annunciator lamp will illuminate. In both cases, as the pilot reacts to decrease the high rate of descent and the aircraft flight path exits the alerting/warning envelope, the annunciator lamp will extinguish and the voice alerts will cease.”
More details about the EGPWS examination can be found in the "EGPWS Factual Report" located in the public docket for this accident.
FAA Advisory Circular 60-4A Pilot's Spatial Disorientation
According to FAA Advisory Circular 60-4A "Pilot's Spatial Disorientation," "Surface references and the natural horizon may at times become obscured, although visibility may be above visual flight rule minimums. Lack of natural horizon or surface reference is common on over-water flights, at night, and especially at night in extremely sparsely populated areas or in low visibility conditions. A sloping cloud formation, an obscured horizon, a dark scene spread with ground lights and stars, and certain geometric patterns of ground lights can provide inaccurate visual information for aligning the aircraft correctly with the actual horizon. The disoriented pilot may place the aircraft in a dangerous attitude."
FAA's Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25)
The FAA's Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25), also states that under normal flight conditions, when there is a visual reference to the horizon and ground, the sensory system in the inner ear helps to identify the pitch, roll, and yaw movements of the airplane. When visual contact with the horizon is lost, the vestibular system becomes unreliable. Without visual references outside the airplane, there are many situations where combinations of normal motions and forces can create convincing illusions that are difficult to overcome. In a classic example, a pilot may believe the airplane is in level flight, when, in reality, it is in a gradual turn. If the airspeed increases, the pilot may experience a postural sensation of a level dive and pull back on the stick, which tightens the turn and creates increasing G-loads. If recovery is not initiated, a steep spiral will develop. This is sometimes called the graveyard spiral, because if the pilot fails to recognize that the airplane is in a spiral and fails to return the airplane to wings-level flight, the airplane will eventually strike the ground. If the horizon becomes visible again, the pilot will have an opportunity to return the airplane to straight-and-level flight, and continued visual contact with the horizon will allow the pilot to maintain straight-and-level flight. However, if contact with the horizon is lost again, the inner ear may fool the pilot into thinking the airplane has started a bank in the other direction, causing the graveyard spiral to begin all over again.
NTSB Identification: ERA12FA438
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, July 11, 2012 in Moscow, TN
Aircraft: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR20, registration: N764RV
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
On July 11, 2012, about 0907 central daylight time, a Cirrus SR20, N764RV, registered to Vaughn Aviation LLC and operated by an individual, sustained substantial damaged from tree and terrain impact near Moscow, Tennessee. The pilot was fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from Millington Regional Jetport Airport (NQA), Millington, Tennessee, about 0825, for an intended destination of Pensacola, Florida.
Several witnesses near the accident site heard a loud revving engine before the sound of an explosion. Smoke was seen coming from an open meadow and the authorities were notified of a possible airplane crash. One witness located approximately 1/3 of a mile southwest of the accident site observed the airplane descending, at a level attitude, about 100 feet (ft) above the ground when it caught his attention. The airplane was traveling at high rate of speed and flying from the west to the northeast moments before the explosion was heard. Authorities and first responders to the accident reported at that time the weather was low cloud ceilings and drizzling rain.
The pilot, age 48, held a Federal Aviation Administration private pilot certificate with rating for airplane single engine land. He was issued a third-class medical certificate on July 28, 2010, with no limitations. At that time he documented a total time of 285 civilian flight hours.
The NQA 0835 METAR was winds variable at 4 knots; visibility 6 statute miles, mist, overcast clouds at 900 above ground level, temperature 24 degrees Celsius (C); dew point 22 degrees C; altimeter 29.99.
Examination of the accident site showed the airplane’s energy path was on an estimated 035-degree heading. The airplane’s initial collision was with the top of a 40 foot tall tree. The accident site elevation was 498 feet msl. The airplane impacted terrain about 70 feet forward of the impacted tree. The descent angle between the tree and terrain was approximately 60-degrees. The initial ground impact crater measured approximate 6 feet wide by 6 feet long and was followed by a ground scar approximately 20 feet wide by 15 feet long, which were consistent in size and dimension to the leading edge of the right wing, the right main landing gear, and left main landing gear; at a right wing low attitude at impact. The debris field extended outward approximately 115 feet wide by 480 feet long from the crater.
Remnants of the multi-function display (MFD), primary fight display (PFD), and the enhanced ground proximity warning system (EGPWS) were retained by NTSB for data recovery.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Authorities have identified the pilot who was killed in the crash of a single-engine plane in Fayette County.
The county's sheriff's office says 51-year-old Rickie
Charles Vaughn of Arlington died when the Cirrus SR 20 aircraft he was
flying crashed shortly before 9 a.m. Wednesday in a field near Moscow in
West Tennessee.
Arlington is a suburb of Memphis. Moscow is located about 35 miles east of Memphis.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash.
FAA IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 764RV Make/Model: SR20 Description: SR-20
Date: 07/11/2012 Time: 1407
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
City: MOSCOW State: TN Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN A FIELD UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE 1 PERSON ON
BOARD WAS FATALLY INJURED, NEAR MOSCOW, TN
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 1
# Crew: 1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Unknown Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: MEMPHIS, TN (SO25) Entry date: 07/12/2012
http://registry.faa.gov/N764RV
~ (Moscow, TN) What Jeff Long heard while sitting inside his Fayette County home was a plane crashing down in the field near his house.
“We heard what sounded like a rocket,” said Long. “It was like, ‘[Buzzing sound], bam!’ and that was it, just that quick.”
It was that quickly that the plane’s pilot was also killed.
“That’s bad anytime we lose a life like that,” said Long. “It’s bad, really its a tragedy.”
The Fayette County Sheriff’s Department says the plane left a Millington airport earlier in the morning and was headed to Florida when the accident happened at about 8:45 Wednesday morning.
The sheriff’s department says there were no mayday calls or reports from the pilot that anything was wrong with the plane.
“Witnesses say they had heard the plane flying around the area earlier then they heard a loud revving sound of the engine appeared to clip the tree line behind us and the plane went down at that point,” said Fayette County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, Ray Garcia.
“I went out and i didn’t see any smoke or anything so I just couldn’t figure out what happened,” said Long.
It’s now up to the National Transportation Safety Board to figure what plucked that airplane out of the sky and scattered it across a field, ultimately killing its pilot.
“There’s nothing we can do to help him, but we can pray for the family with their tragic loss, so sudden,” said Long.
The NTSB is flying in from Miami, FL and will begin its investigation Wednesday evening.
The sheriff’s office says the pilot’s identity likely won’t be released until Thursday.
It was that quickly that the plane’s pilot was also killed.
“That’s bad anytime we lose a life like that,” said Long. “It’s bad, really its a tragedy.”
The Fayette County Sheriff’s Department says the plane left a Millington airport earlier in the morning and was headed to Florida when the accident happened at about 8:45 Wednesday morning.
The sheriff’s department says there were no mayday calls or reports from the pilot that anything was wrong with the plane.
“Witnesses say they had heard the plane flying around the area earlier then they heard a loud revving sound of the engine appeared to clip the tree line behind us and the plane went down at that point,” said Fayette County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, Ray Garcia.
“I went out and i didn’t see any smoke or anything so I just couldn’t figure out what happened,” said Long.
It’s now up to the National Transportation Safety Board to figure what plucked that airplane out of the sky and scattered it across a field, ultimately killing its pilot.
“There’s nothing we can do to help him, but we can pray for the family with their tragic loss, so sudden,” said Long.
The NTSB is flying in from Miami, FL and will begin its investigation Wednesday evening.
The sheriff’s office says the pilot’s identity likely won’t be released until Thursday.
According to the Fayette County Sheriff's Office, the pilot was flying out of Millington. The pilot was the only person on board. He was killed when his plane went down near the intersection of Yager Drive and Oak Grove Road near Moscow, TN.
The National Transportation Safety Board is on its way to the scene. They should arrive at about 6 p.m.
A sheriff's office spokesman said the plane may have clipped the top of a tree line causing it to go down. NTSB will investigate and determine an official cause for the crash.
A witness told Action News 5 that he heard a loud boom and could see smoke coming from the crash site.
Action News 5's Nick Kenney is on the scene. He said the plane is in pieces in a pasture. Kenney said it is in so many pieces it is unrecognizable.
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