Amateur-built RV-6A accident near St. Simons Isld, Georgia, June 11, 2003
On June 11, 2003 at about 3:30 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-6A, registered N221SA, was substantially damaged in an accident near St. Simons Isld, Georgia (Dummy airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection that resulted in his failure to remove the seatbelt (flight control gust lock) from the right side flight control stick.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 2003 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- St. Simons Isld, Georgia · Dummy · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-6A
- Registration
- N221SA · registry record · serial 23147
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the right control stick was secured with the passenger seat belt, acting as a gust lock. The pilot stated that he took off without removing the seat belt from the control stick. When the airplane pitched up, it veered to the left side of the runway, the pilot reduced engine power, landed off the left side of the runway and flipped inverted.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 750 hours in all; 117 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SSI St. Simons Isld GA at 3:30 pm
- Destination: FTY Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 22
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from KSSI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.