Rv8 down in tehachapi

[agent4573]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.teh...d3cea.amp.html


"A single-engine Vans RV-8 aircraft with one person aboard crashed onto the rooftop of a business near Tehachapi Municipal Airport in Tehachapi shortly before noon Friday.

The plane landed inside the heavily damaged business, and the Kern County Fire Department confirmed the pilot died.

A small fuel leak was quickly mitigated by the Kern County Fire Department. No explosion or fire was reported.

The crash occurred inside the Industrial Park located in the 400 block of North Greet Street located just outside the perimeter of the airport.

First responders included the Kern County Fire Department, with engines from Tehachapi, Golden Hills, Bear Valley Springs and surrounding community, Tehachapi Police Department, Hall Ambulance and Edison and Kern County Fire, Search and Rescue.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the accident. A cause was not known Friday afternoon.

No other injuries were reported by anyone of the ground."

<SNIP> Speculation removed per the Rules

This was the plane in question:
https://www.vansaircraft.com/first-f...hillipss-rv-8/

N138PM, out of whiteman.

[RV8JD]

More info from the Aviation Safety Network.

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/238581



RIP.

[RicoB]

Very Sad! Prayers to Mike and family!

[Toobuilder]

Flight Aware track is interesting. Flew straight from WHP to TSP in essentially a direct course - crashes on straight in to 29. Speed and altitude profile look reasonable for a straight in... I have two thoughts, but will wait for the final report.

[Bicyclops]

I was on short final and Mike looked to be having directional control issues on the runway. He was off to the right edge and he transmitted "Going around". I saw a puff of dirt which I assume was prop blast at the edge of the runway. As I rolled to a stop, I saw him about 30* off runway heading, nose up. It didn't look like he was accelerating. He disappeared behind the buildings, still nose up and wings wobbling.

I, stupidly, took off to see if I could spot him, which I didn't. Not very clear thinking, there. The guy who landed before Mike radioed and said I could use his truck. I returned for landing and had to chant "Make this landing" over and over to block out my panic for Mike. I went to the scene and there was nothing I could do for him other than tell the police and fire who he was and what I knew.

I don't know why he wasn't accelerating and climbing. I don't know why he didn't get his nose down. It was in the low 80s and 4000ft elevation. Angle valve and constant speed. Even if he didn't retract flaps, he should have been able to climb.

Having already made one bad decision, I felt it was prudent to leave my airplane in a hangar there and catch a ride home.

Sadly,

Ed Holyoke

[Toobuilder]

Thanks for that info -as painful as it was to offer.

Very sad thing.

[mark manda]

I’m very sorry about your friend Ed.

Our newspaper (Bakersfield Californian)had an article and photo in today’s paper and my wife showed it to me.

Succinct and to the point without hyperbole.

My hangar neighbor reported that it was extremely bumpy later in the afternoon.

[PilotjohnS]

Sorry to hear about this. My condolences to family and friends.

[Ed_Wischmeyer]

Originally Posted by Bicyclops

Having already made one bad decision, I felt it was prudent to leave my airplane in a hangar there and catch a ride home.

Excellent decision! External stress (the S in IMSAFE) can do funny things to your flying that you may not be aware of. You stacked the deck in your favor.

By the way, one of the military flying teams cancels shows when there are external stressors. I don't recall the details, but there was a death at the airport and they canceled that day's show -- they wanted to fly with their full safety margins.

Again, excellent decision, great example for the rest of us.

Ed

[Spirko]

http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2019/0...d-july_21.html