N184DJVans Aircraft RV-8 · 2004

On August 21, 2022, at 1403 mountain daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Vans RV-8, N184DJ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Scio, Oregon. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

Relatives of the pilot told investigators the pilot would often conduct low-altitude flights and perform aerobatic maneuvers over their home, and they were aware he was going to overfly their home on the day of the accident. Flight data recovered from a Dynon SV-D1000 unit onboard the airplane showed the airplane departed Albany Municipal Airport (S12), Albany, Oregon, about 1353, and proceeded easterly towards the relative’s home. The airplane then entered the area of the accident from the west to the east and performed a series of maneuvers near the accident site (Figure 1).

Figure 1. The accident airplane’s flight path.

The relatives of the pilot observed the airplane make three passes over their home before the accident. The accident occurred during the third pass after the airplane flew over about 100 ft above the ground from north to south. The airplane “rolled like a barrel roll” and then descended out of sight behind trees, where they heard it impact the ground.

One family member stated she thought the pilot started the maneuver lower than normal. The second family member said that something did not look right at the start of the maneuver, that the airplane was too low, and that the maneuver was “really snappy looking” and not smooth like he had seen before. He also said the airplane was not wings level as it exited the maneuver. Both family members described hearing the engine running steady and did not hear anything abnormal before the accident.

A witness videoed the final portion of the accident pass. In the video, the airplane can be seen in a nose-up attitude through distant trees, then descending towards the ground at about a 45° nose-low attitude. The airplane engine can be heard running before the sound of impact is heard.

The flight and engine data recovered from the Dynon SV-D1000 unit was consistent with the witness testimony and no engine anomalies were noted in the data. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

No pilot logbooks were recovered during the investigation.

No maintenance records were recovered during the investigation.

No maintenance records were recovered during the investigation.

The airplane impacted a grass field about .2 miles south of the relative’s home. The initial impact signatures were indicative of the airplane impacting in a nose-low and right-wing low attitude. The right flap was separated from the wing and located about 50 ft from the initial impact point. The canopy was separated from the fuselage and was located about 150 ft from the initial impact point. The main wreckage was inverted and located about 250 ft and bearing 200° from the initial impact point. The right wing was mostly separated from the fuselage and was resting under the fuselage.

Both ailerons, elevators, and the rudder were accounted for and remained attached to the airplane. Flight control continuity was verified to all flight control surfaces from the cockpit and continuity was established for all flight controls except the right aileron. The right aileron control tube was fractured near the wing root consistent with impact damage.

The propeller assembly had separated from the engine at the shaft and was located near the main wreckage. Both propeller blades exhibited leading edge gouges, chordwise scratches, and significant S-type bending and curling.

The pilot’s most recent third-class medical certificate was issued on April 24, 2017, with the limitation that he must have available glasses for near vision. He reported taking no medications or having any medical conditions at the time of that examination. According to the autopsy report from the Oregon State Medical Examiner, Clackamas, Oregon, the pilot’s cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries, and the manner of death was accident. No significant natural disease was identified. Toxicology testing detected carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH) in the pilot’s heart blood at 14.9 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) and in lung tissue. No active THC was found in his blood or lung tissue. Diphenhydramine was also detected in the pilot’s liver tissue. No diphenhydramine was found in his blood.