Amateur-built FALCO F-8L accident near Mc Arthur, Ohio, February 13, 1987
On February 13, 1987 at about 5:02 pm local time, a amateur-built FALCO F-8L, registered N894RB, was destroyed in an accident near Mc Arthur, Ohio (Vinton County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 13, 1987 · about 5:02 pm local time
- Place
- Mc Arthur, Ohio · Vinton County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built FALCO F-8L
- Registration
- N894RB · no longer on the register · serial 894
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PIC AND ACFT OWNER LANDED AT A/P AND REQ FUEL WHICH WAS NOT AVAIL. ACFT LEFT TO FLY TO ANOTHER A/P. DURING INITIAL CLIMB ENGINE QUIT AT 300-400 FEET. PIC TURNED BACK TOWARD RWY, ACFT STALLED, IMPACTED GROUND IN 90 DEGREE LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. OTHER PILOTS WHO HAD FLOWN ACFT RPTED IT STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND ROLLED QUICKLY LEFT. TEST FLT SIGN OFF IN ACFT LOG WAS IMPROPERLY ACCOMPLISHED. SIGN OFF INCORRECTLY STATED ACFT HAD NO UNUSUAL FLT CHARACTERISTICS.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 289 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 213 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 27 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, November 24, 1986; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,880 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: UNI Athens OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 3,850 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 31.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from PK13, 47 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.