Amateur-built RV-4 accident near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, April 23, 1990
On April 23, 1990 at about 4:00 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-4, registered N891LH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina (First Flight airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 1990 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kitty Hawk, North Carolina · First Flight · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-4
- Registration
- N891LH · no longer on the register · serial 92
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIS WAS THE PILOT'S FIRST LANDING AT THIS AIRPORT. HE HAD JUST COMPLETED A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT AND THE WIND WAS GUSTING TO 20 KNOTS. AS HE WAS LANDING ON RUNWAY 20, THE WIND PICKED UP A WING, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO LEAVE THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE RIGHT WING DUG INTO THE SAND, THE AIRCRAFT TURNED 180 DEGREES, THE NOSE PITCHED DOWN AND THE PROPELLER STRUCK THE GROUND.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 227 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 227 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 29 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 1989; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Durham NC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 20, 3,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 275° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.