Amateur-built RV-6A accident near Kokomo, Indiana, September 18, 2010
On September 18, 2010 at about 11:30 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-6A, registered N343BG, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Kokomo, Indiana (Glenndale airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Collapse of the nose landing gear during landing rollout on an unpaved runway due to a loss of ground clearance with the landing gear fork, causing the airplane to nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 2010 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Kokomo, Indiana · Glenndale · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-6A
- Registration
- N343BG · registry record · serial 60343
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane encountered a rise in the turf runway during the landing rollout. The nose landing gear left the ground momentarily and when it came back down it partially collapsed causing the airplane to nose over. The pilot noted that he had relaxed the flight controls and did not have the elevator held up at the time. He added that this was his third landing on the runway that day, and that he normally tried to avoid that area of the runway. A postaccident inspection revealed that the nose landing gear remained attached to the engine mount. However, the strut was curled aft with the nose wheel assembly rotated approximately 90 degrees. The nose wheel assembly and fairing remained attached to the strut. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, left wing, and empennage when it nosed over. Examination of the runway noted a slight rise approximately one-third of the way down the runway. A ground scar consistent with being formed by the nose landing gear was observed down field from the rise. The nose landing gear had been modified in accordance with the airplane kit manufacturer's service bulletin. The bulletin provided for additional ground-to-nose landing gear fork clearance in an effort to reduce the possibility of nose gear collapse and nose over accidents. A review of prior accident reports involving collapse of the nose gear during landing rollout indicated that they all occurred on unpaved runways.
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
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail landing gear › Failure
- factor Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Runway/landing area condition › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,070 hours in all; 204 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 2, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 205 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 10, 2010; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8I3 Kokomo IN at 11:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,048 ft by 110 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 11:35 pm from OKK, 9 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.