Joy Aviation LTD VANS RV-6 accident near Mckinney, Texas, March 24, 2012
On March 24, 2012 at about 8:10 pm local time, a Joy Aviation LTD VANS RV-6, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N589M, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Mckinney, Texas (Collin County Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot did not maintain control of the airplane during takeoff, which resulted in a ground collision with airport construction materials.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 24, 2012 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Mckinney, Texas · Collin County Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Joy Aviation LTD VANS RV-6, amateur-built
- Registration
- N589M · no longer on the register · serial 23613
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the tailwheel-equipped airplane started to veer to the left as he started the takeoff roll. He brought the tail up and applied a “little” right rudder. The airplane continued to veer to the left, the pilot applied full right rudder, and the airplane hit the edge of the runway. The pilot continued the takeoff with full power, but it became apparent that the airplane did not have enough airspeed for liftoff. He reduced the throttle to idle, but the airplane hit a construction flag barrier pole and concrete drainage pipes that were being installed between the new and existing runways. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 348 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TKI Mckinney TX at 8:10 pm
- Destination: ETN Eastland TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 7,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
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.