National Transportation Safety Board

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report

Location: Chattahoochee, FL Accident Number: ERA22FA036

Date & Time: October 31, 2021, 13:20 Local Registration: N479JJ
Aircraft: Vans RV4 Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted
Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Under:

On October 31, 2021, about 1320 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Vans
RV-4, N479JJ, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Chattahoochee, Florida.
The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal
Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot departed the Tallahassee International Airport (TLH), about 1303 destined for
Monroe County Aeroplex Airport (MVC), Monroeville, Alabama. After departure, the air traffic
controller terminated radar services and approved the pilot to change radio frequencies.
According to preliminary radar data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration, the
airplane continued westbound for about 17 minutes before radar contact was lost.

An off-duty highway patrolman was performing outdoor yardwork at his residence when the
canopy from the airplane fell in his yard. The canopy was about 1.5 miles from the main
wreckage.

The accident site was located in a wooded area and the wreckage path was about 550 ft long.
The airplane was heavily fragmented and scattered along a debris path on a heading of about
220° magnetic. The outboard portion of the right wing, which included the aileron was
separated in the vicinity of an initial tree strike. Small pieces of sheet metal, wheel pants, pieces
of the carburetor, fuel tank wing sections and stringers were located along the wreckage path
for about 400 ft. The empennage was leaning against a tree with impression marks observed
about 15 ft up the tree. The inboard section of the left wing was found about 500 ft along the
wreckage path. The fuel tank was breached, and the left wing was fire damaged. The engine,
propeller, pieces of the landing gear, and parts of the instrument panel were located at the end
of the wreckage path. Both propeller blades were impact separated.

The wreckage was retained for further examination.

Page 1 of 2 ERA22FA036
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.
 Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Vans Registration: N479JJ

Model/Series: RV4 NO SERIES Aircraft Category: Airplane

Amateur Built: Yes

Operator: On file Operating Certificate(s) None
Held:
Operator Designator Code:
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: VMC Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: TLH,68 ft msl Observation Time: 13:53 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 25 Nautical Miles Temperature/Dew Point: 18°C /10°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 5 knots / , 300°
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 3300 ft AGL Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.01 inches Hg Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Tallahassee, FL (TLH) Destination: Monroeville, AL (MVC)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: N/A Aircraft Fire: On-ground
Ground Injuries: N/A Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal Latitude, 30.649152,-84.7231 (est)
Longitude:

Administrative Information
Investigator In Charge (IIC):
Additional Participating Persons:
Note:
Boggs, Daniel
Gregory Joy; FAA; Tampa, FL
Mike Childers; Lycoming ; Atlanta, GA

Page 2 of 2 ERA22FA036
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.