Amateur-built RV-6 accident near Pagosa Springs, Colorado, September 20, 2012
On September 20, 2012 at about 6:15 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-6, registered N140RV, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Pagosa Springs, Colorado (Stevens Field Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 of the airplane during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of landing experience at high density altitudes.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 20, 2012 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Pagosa Springs, Colorado · Stevens Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-6
- Registration
- N140RV · registry record · serial 25368
- 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 since there was no appreciable wind he chose the landing runway because of its slight upslope. He reported that he made an uneventful wheel-landing, with the wing flaps partially extended, and that he was able to maintain directional control until the tailwheel made contact with the runway. The pilot stated that the airplane immediately began to swerve left after the tailwheel contacted the runway. He reportedly overcorrected and the airplane swerved to the right. The pilot overcorrected for a second time and the airplane swerved left. The pilot’s attempts to regain directional control were unsuccessful and the airplane departed off the left side of the runway. The right main landing gear collapsed and the right wing impacted terrain during the runway excursion. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He postulated that the airplane’s elevated true airspeed and ground speed, due to the high density altitude conditions, contributed to his inability to maintain directional control during landing roll. He further noted that he was unaccustomed with landing at high density altitudes and that the accident might have been prevented had he performed a full-stall (three-point) landing instead of a wheel-landing. The calculated density altitude was 10,081 feet.
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 landing (landing roll) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › (general) › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 811 hours in all; 624 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 781 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 19, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 621 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 1, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Aero Sport Power O-360-A2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LVS Las Vegas NM at 5:30 pm
- Destination: PSO Pagosa Springs CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 8,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.34 inHg
- Observation at 6:15 pm from PSO
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.