Amateur-built Vans RV-3 accident near Larchwood, Iowa, March 28, 2012
On March 28, 2012 at about 5:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Vans RV-3, registered N34WC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Larchwood, Iowa (Zangger Vintage Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane after landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 28, 2012 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Larchwood, Iowa · Zangger Vintage Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Vans RV-3
- Registration
- N34WC · registry record · serial 811-4
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After landing, the airplane veered off the right side of the runway into an adjacent corn field, where it nosed over and came to rest inverted. The canopy and vertical stabilizer were crushed. A toxicology screen revealed the presence of fluoxetine (Prozac, an antidepressant); norfluoxetine (a metabolite of fluoxetine); and trazodone (a tranquilizer). These drugs carry the warning that they may impair mental and/or physical ability required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks and are contraindicated for flight. On his most recent application for medical certification, the pilot did not report taking these medications. Although the presence of these medications and the conditions for which they were prescribed posed an increased hazard to flight safety, it could not be determined if the pilot was experiencing any side effects from the medications at the time of the accident. Postaccident examination revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 740 hours in all; 2 in this make and model
- Last flight review: March 5, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 591 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 24, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: KY14 Tea SD at 4:15 pm
- Destination: K2VA Larchwood IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 3,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from KFSD, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.