Amateur-built RV-6A accident near Dexter, New Mexico, June 5, 2011
On June 5, 2011 at about 3:15 am local time, a amateur-built RV-6A, registered N820RC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Dexter, New Mexico (Private airport). 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 pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a fence while landing at night.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 2011 · about 3:15 am local time
- Place
- Dexter, New Mexico · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-6A
- Registration
- N820RC · registry record · serial 60204
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on final approach, during a night landing, the pilot established that his altitude was low so he raised the nose of the airplane. The tail of the airplane struck a fence and the airplane impacted terrain short of the runway, coming to rest inverted. The empennage, the right aileron, and the outboard portion of the right wing separated from the airplane. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to the accident.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › (general) › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 330 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 11, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,087 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 25, 2010
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-AIA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KALM Alamagordo NM at 2:30 am
- Destination: PVT Dexter NM
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 am from KROW, 15 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.
Other NTSB records under N820RC the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.