Amateur-built VANS RV-4 accident near Collinsville, Oklahoma, May 29, 2010
On May 29, 2010 at about 3:00 pm local time, a amateur-built VANS RV-4, registered N74RV, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Collinsville, Oklahoma (Airman Acres 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
A loss of engine power shortly after takeoff for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to make a 180-degree turn at low level.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 2010 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Collinsville, Oklahoma · Airman Acres Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VANS RV-4
- Registration
- N74RV · registry record · serial 3873
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff, when the airplane was approximately 150 feet off the ground, the engine lost power. The pilot elected to make a 180-degree turn back to the airstrip to conduct the forced landing. During the turn, the airplane’s wing and nosed dropped and the airplane impacted terrain in a nearby pasture. A postcrash fire consumed a majority of airplane’s cabin/cockpit and the engine area sustained heat damage. A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine failed to identify a reason for the loss of engine power.
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 engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 9,999 hours in all; 330 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 330 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 17, 2009
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: OK93 Collinsville OK
- Destination: OK93 Collinsville OK
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KTUL, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.