Amateur-built RV4 N250LB accident near Clovis, New Mexico

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control during initial climb due to distraction, which resulted in an in-flight upset and impact with terrain.

NTSB analysis

The pilot was departing from an airport when the accident occurred. During the initial climb, he became momentarily distracted when his mobile phone rang. He looked down at the phone, which was on the floor, and within 2 seconds, the airplane had rolled inverted. At this time, the pilot looked outside the cockpit and became aware of the inflight upset. He immediately recovered the airplane into an upright attitude, but the airplane impacted the ground, nosed over, and came to rest inverted.

The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies or malfunctions that could have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR20LA310 for the full record.