Amateur-built VANS AIRCRAFT RV-8 accident near Pecos, Texas, May 12, 2012
On May 12, 2012 at about 6:00 pm local time, a amateur-built VANS AIRCRAFT RV-8, registered N811JR, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Pecos, Texas (Pecos Municipal 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 visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing with a crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 2012 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pecos, Texas · Pecos Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VANS AIRCRAFT RV-8
- Registration
- N811JR · no longer on the register · serial 81614
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the pilot approached his destination airport, he listened to the airport’s automated weather reporting station. As he flew over the airfield, he noticed that the wind indicators showed that the wind was from a different direction than what was reported from the automated weather station. He then listened to the reporting station again and learned that the updated report agreed with the wind direction indicators on the airfield. The pilot then selected a runway for the landing approach based on the prevailing wind. The pilot reported that the landing and landing roll were straight and without complications; however, about three-quarters through the landing roll, he felt a large wind gust on the right side of the airplane. The pilot said that he did not have enough rudder authority to overcome the effect of the wind and that the airplane did a 180-degree left turn. During the 180-degree turn, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage near the main landing gear attachment point.
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
- Other weather encounter during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 130 hours in all; 58 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 79 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 25, 2012
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KGTU Georgetown TX at 4:00 pm
- Destination: KPEQ Pecos TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 6,236 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from KPEQ
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.