ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 44092
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| Date: | Sunday 25 June 2006 |
| Time: | 09:52 |
| Type: |  Varga 2150A |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N8267J |
| MSN: | VAC-113-78 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 2207 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-320-A2C |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Columbus, WI -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Fall River, WI (PVT) |
| Brookfield, WI (02C) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The airplane was destroyed during an in-flight collision with trees and terrain, and a subsequent post-impact fire. Witnesses reported observing the airplane in low altitude flight along a river before it struck an overhanging tree limb. One witness reported that he saw the airplane flying the "terrain of the land about 50 feet above ground level," and that it proceeded "down the river really low." A second witness stated that he observed the airplane about 20 - 30 feet above the river. He reported that it banked as if attempting to follow a bend in the river when it appeared to strike the top of a tree. A third witness stated that he observed the airplane flying below the tree line and that it appeared to be attempting to follow the river. He noted that it apparently tried to climb when it clipped a tree and began to lose altitude. The airplane came to rest in a field on the opposite side of the river. A section of the right wing separated following the collision with the tree and was recovered from the river. The post accident examination did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a pre-impact failure. Toxicology testing indicated the presence of marijuana in the pilot's blood and lung tissue. The levels of marijuana noted in the report were consistent with the pilot being impaired at the time of the accident.
Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the trees during the attempted low altitude pass along the river. Contributing factors were the intentional low altitude flight maneuver, the pilot's improper decision to attempt that maneuver, and his impairment due to the effects of marijuana.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB: https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20060627X00839&key=1
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 28-Oct-2008 00:45 | ASN archive | Added |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:24 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 05-Dec-2017 09:12 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Other fatalities, Source, Narrative] |
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