Amateur-built RV 6 accident near Pratt, Kansas, March 7, 2015
On March 7, 2015, a 1995 amateur-built RV 6, registered N4074V, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Pratt, Kansas (Private Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A hard landing, which resulted in the pilot’s loss of directional control and the airplane’s subsequent nose-over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 7, 2015
- Place
- Pratt, Kansas · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV 6, built 1995
- Registration
- N4074V · registry record · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While landing on a grass airstrip, the airplane ran off the right side of the airstrip, nosed over, and then came to rest inverted. There were no witnesses to the accident. Ground scars on the airstrip were consistent with a hard landing. An examination of the airframe, landing gear, brakes, and related systems revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Acquaintances of the pilot reported that he had complained of depth perception problems and had been landing the airplane hard. The pilot was denied a medical certificate due to health concerns noted by the air medical examiner. Investigators were not able to determine the pilot's recent flight experience. It is likely that the pilot landed the airplane hard and was unable to maintain directional control.
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)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
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 › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Physical › Sensory ability/limitation › Visual function › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,099 hours in all; 16 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,150.5 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 9, 2013; 58 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lucas KS
- Destination: PVT Pratt KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 1,900 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 N4074V 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.