Amateur-built RV-6 accident near Ama, Louisiana, August 23, 2009
On August 23, 2009 at about 9:30 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-6, registered N352JB, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Ama, Louisiana (St. Charles Airport). It was an instructional 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 pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 2009 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ama, Louisiana · St. Charles Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-6
- Registration
- N352JB · no longer on the register · serial 23804
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was anxious about flying the airplane and had elected to hire a flight instructor for further training. According to a witness, the airplane taxied from the hangar to the end of the runway. The airplane remained at the departure end of the runway for several minutes consistent with performing a before-takeoff check. The airplane initiated a takeoff roll and shortly thereafter veered off of the runway to the left. The airplane then struck several trees head on and was immediately engulfed in flames. An examination of the airplane, engine, and related systems revealed no anomalies that would have affected the takeoff.
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 takeoff defining event
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 361 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 321 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 27, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,763 hours in all; 17 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,162 as pilot in command; 1,447 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 1, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 388 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 30, 2009
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: LS40 Ama LA
- Destination: LS40 Ama LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,900 ft by 125 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KMSY, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.