NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On July 30, 2014, about 1500 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Render RV 9A airplane, N82PR, impacted terrain near the approach end of a runway at the Gallinger Airport (51WI), near Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The private pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual flight rules conditions prevailed for the flight, which did not operate on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Albertus Airport (FEP), near Freeport, Illinois, about 1400.

According to the pilot's accident report, he departed about 0830 from Bowling Green, Kentucky, and flew to West Plaines, Missouri, where he refueled the airplane and picked up a passenger. He flew the airplane to Freeport, Illinois, and refueled the airplane there. A copy of fuel receipts from the fixed base operator at FEP showed the airplane was serviced with 22.1 gallons of 100 low lead aviation gasoline about 1342 on July 30, 2014. He then flew the airplane to 51WI. The pilot reported that the winds favored "runway 18" at 51WI. He entered a left downwind leg for the runway. He turned left base and then an "abbreviated final" to avoid airspace over a prison located north of the runway. The pilot added that the airplane was descending at the "usual rate" and the controls subsequently "got mushy." The airplane impacted terrain at the approach end of the runway. He indicated that he woke up when first responders arrived and did not remember the impact.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot held a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) private pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land rating. FAA records showed that the pilot held a third-class medical certificate with a limitation for corrective lenses. The pilot reported that he had accumulated 503 hours of total flight time and 428 hours of flight time in the same make and model as the accident airplane. He stated that he had accumulated 14 hours of flight time in the 90 days prior to the accident and 7 hours of flight time in 30 days prior to the accident.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

N82PR was an experimental amateur-built Render RV 9A single engine, two-seat, low-wing, kit airplane with serial number 487. The airplane was powered by a 150-horsepower, Lycoming O-320-E2D engine with serial number L-20024-27A. A special airworthiness certificate was issued for the airplane on July 23, 2003. A condition inspection on the airplane was completed on June 16, 2014. The pilot reported that the airplane had accumulated 595 hours of total flight time at the time of the accident. He further indicated in his accident report that there were no mechanical malfunctions in reference to the accident flight.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

At 1513, the recorded weather about five miles and 180 degrees from the accident site at the Wittman Regional Airport, near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was: Wind variable at 6 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 23 degrees C; dew point 11 degrees C; altimeter 30.02 inches of mercury.

AIRPORT INFORMATION

The 51WI airport was a privately owned, non-towered airport located about two miles north of the city of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, at an elevation of 800 feet. According to the airport's master record, its published runway 9/27 was listed as a 1,200 foot by 100 foot turf runway.

A north/south orientated runway was present at the accident site, which was not published in the airport's master record at the time of the accident. The threshold of the approach end of the southbound runway was about 350 feet south of powerlines that ran perpendicular to the runway. The threshold was about 775 feet south of a prison's perimeter and its prison guard tower.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

A ground scar near the approach end of a southbound runway at 51WI was about 13 feet long and the scar ended by a depression consistent with an impact from a propeller. The dirt in the depression had a paint transfer consistent with the color of the propeller's back surface. The airplane and its right wing came to rest about 80 feet south of the depression. The heading from the depression to the airplane's nose landing gear (nlg) was about 200 degrees magnetic. The airplane fragmented along this heading and debris was found along this path. A section of the left wing tip was found about 73 feet north of the nlg and the left wing tip's navigation light was found about 69 feet north of the nlg. Sections of clear plastic and the left aileron were found about 61 feet north of the nlg. The left wing was found separated from its fuselage about 45 feet north of the nlg.

The two-bladed fixed pitch propeller remained attached to the engine. One propeller blade exhibited chordwise abrasion, s-shaped bending, and leading edge gouges. The outboard third of the other propeller blade was bent forward and it exhibited chordwise abrasion. Throttle, carburetor heat, and mixture controls were found in their forward positions. The engine controls were moved by hand in the cockpit and continuity was established when their other ends were observed to move correspondingly. The control stick was manipulated by hand and the right aileron and elevators were observed to move accordingly. The rudder pedals were manipulated by hand and the rudder moved accordingly. The left wing's push-pull tube separated from its end, near the fuselage's wing root. The section of the push-pull tube within the fuselage moved in correct sequence to the control stick's movement and all push-pull tube separations were consistent with overload. Engine and airplane control continuity was established. A liquid consistent with the color and smell of aviation gasoline was observed in the right fuel tank.

ADDITIONAL DATA/INFORMATION

The FAA Airplane Flying Handbook, in part, stated:

The base leg is the transitional part of the traffic pattern

between the downwind leg and the final approach

leg. Depending on the wind condition, it is established

at a sufficient distance from the approach end of the

landing runway to permit a gradual descent to the

intended touchdown point. ...

The final approach leg is a descending flightpath starting

from the completion of the base-to-final turn and

extending to the point of touchdown. This is probably

the most important leg of the entire pattern, because

here the pilot's judgment and procedures must be the

sharpest to accurately control the airspeed and descent

angle while approaching the intended touchdown

point.

The pilot's safety recommendation, in part, stated:

The close location of the prison and the power lines on the north end

of the airstrip forces pilots to make a short final but still stay high to

avoid power lines. Maybe I should have landed to the north, even with

a tailwind.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to establish a stabilized approach and to maintain airspeed during final approach over obstacles resulting in a stall/mush.