Tuesday, July 06, 2021

Van's RV-7A, N654C: Accident occurred July 01, 2021 at Heritage Field Airport (KPTW), Pottstown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania




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.

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Allentown, Pennsylvania


Location: Pottstown, PA
Accident Number: ERA21LA277
Date & Time: July 1, 2021, 13:00 Local 
Registration: N654C
Aircraft: Vans RV7 
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On July 1, 2021, about 1300 eastern daylight time, a Vans RV-7A, N654C, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Pottstown, Pennsylvania. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to the pilot, who was also the owner/builder of the experimental amateur-built airplane, a preflight inspection and engine run-up prior to takeoff were normal. During the initial climb after takeoff at 800 ft above ground level, the engine lost power and the pilot attempted to return to the airport; however, the airplane impacted terrain before the runway and a postcrash fire ensued. The pilot further reported that at the time of the accident the airplane had accrued about 3.9 total flight hours.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident site, only the outer portions of both wings and a portion of the tail were undamaged by the fire. The engine and cockpit sustained extensive fire damage. The electric ignition system, wiring harness, and fuel pumps were all fractured and melted. The airplane was equipped with a Subaru engine. The automotive fuel that the pilot used to fuel the airplane was stored in a bucket in the pilot’s hangar. It did not contain any water or other visible contaminates.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Vans 
Registration: N654C
Model/Series: RV7 A
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: Yes
Operator: On file 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: PTW,288 ft msl 
Observation Time: 12:54 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 24°C /21°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 1000 ft AGL
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 12000 ft AGL
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.91 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Pottstown, PA
Destination: Pottstown, PA

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: N/A 
Aircraft Fire: On-ground
Ground Injuries: N/A 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 40.239687,-75.556144











































1 comment:

  1. Good job keeping your cool and walking away from that. Skillful. Thanks for another view of the Limerick cooling towers. I'm usually looking straight down on them, as I cross the VOR there. Hope you got safely back up in the air soon.

    ReplyDelete