Thursday, September 20, 2018

Rutan Long-EZ, N5RJ: Accident occurred September 19, 2018 at Independence State Airport (7S5), Polk County, Oregon

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Portland, Oregon

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms


https://registry.faa.gov/N5RJ



Location: Independence, OR
Accident Number: GAA18CA562
Date & Time: 09/19/2018, 0723 PDT
Registration: N5RJ
Aircraft: Rutan RUTAN LONG EZ
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Hard landing
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

The pilot in the experimental amateur-built airplane reported that during his third touch-and-go landing, the airplane's airspeed was fast, and the airplane landed hard. The airplane's nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane exited the right side of the runway. The airplane cartwheeled and came to rest upright.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial
Age: 87, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Glider
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: None 
Last FAA Medical Exam: 04/01/2016
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 10/01/2016
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 3000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 28 hours (Total, this make and model), 8 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 8 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Rutan
Registration: N5RJ
Model/Series: RUTAN LONG EZ No Series
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1996
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 739
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 07/19/2018, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1325 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 628 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: C91  installed, activated, aided in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: O-320
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 160 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KSLE, 201 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 9 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1456 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 75°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR): 
Wind Speed/Gusts: Calm /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 30.12 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 9°C / 7°C
Precipitation and Obscuration:  No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Independence, OR (7S5)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Independence, OR (7S5)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0700 PDT
Type of Airspace: Class E

Airport Information

Airport: INDEPENDENCE STATE (7S5)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 180 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 34
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 3142 ft / 60 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop; Traffic Pattern

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 44.866944, -123.198333 (est)



The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating a plane crash at the Independence State Airport that left the pilot with minor injuries Wednesday morning. 

At around 7:25 a.m., a pilot flying a single engine, two-seater plane lost control on landing and flipped the aircraft over, according to FAA's Allen Kenitzer. The pilot was the only one on board the Rutan Long-EZ at the time. 

The plane's nose gear collapsed upon landing and the aircraft skidded off the runway, flipping on its back, according to Al Cleveland from airport emergency response. 

The pilot walked away from the crash prior to Polk fire and EMS arriving on scene, according to Polk Fire District 1. The pilot, identified as Jim Wixon, of Independence, by his friend Rod Kerr. Wixon is being treated for minor injuries at the hospital, according to Cleveland.

The plane has been returned to the owner's hangar, according to Kerr. 

Investigators from the NTSB and FAA were inspecting the wreckage Wednesday morning and will continue to review the incident. 

Original article ➤ https://www.statesmanjournal.com






INDEPENDENCE, OR (KPTV) - A pilot was injured in a small plane crash that happened in Independence Wednesday morning.

The single engine, two-seater airplane crashed around 7:25 a.m. at the Independence State Airport, according to Polk County Fire District No. 1.

Fire officials said the crash happened when the pilot was landing and the plane came to a rest on its top off the side of the runway.

The 80-year-old pilot, who was the only person on board, was able to get himself out of the plane before medical personnel arrived. He was evaluated for minor injuries, but refused further treatment, according to fire officials.

The name of the pilot has not been released.

The cause of the crash is unknown at this time.

The runway has been shut down while the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration investigate the crash. The Oregon Department of Aviation is also on scene.

Story and video ➤ https://www.kptv.com

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