Amateur-built VANS RV-8 accident near Prague, Oklahoma, May 6, 2010
On May 6, 2010 at about 3:30 pm local time, a amateur-built VANS RV-8, registered N127TT, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Prague, Oklahoma. 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 in-flight separation of a propeller blade for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 2010 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Prague, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VANS RV-8
- Registration
- N127TT · registry record · serial 80071
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot/builder of a kit-built airplane had recently installed a three-bladed, ground adjustable propeller. He said the new propeller had about 8 flight hours and five flights on it. About 30 minutes into the flight, a single propeller blade separated. Due to the vibration, the pilot shut down the engine and performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane bounced, nosed over and became inverted. The propeller blade lost in flight was not found, and examination of the remaining propeller hub and blades did not determine the reason for the blade separation.
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
- Part(s) separation from AC during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during emergency descent
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Propeller system › Propeller blade section › Failure
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,600 hours in all; 175 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 4,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 175 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 14, 2009
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Prague OK
- Destination: Prague OK
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 3:10 pm from KSRE, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.