Amateur-built RV8 accident near Joplin, Missouri, June 29, 2019
On June 29, 2019 at about 6:45 pm local time, a 2008 amateur-built RV8, registered N678LL, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Joplin, Missouri (Joplin Regional 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 during landing, which resulted in a ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 2019 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Joplin, Missouri · Joplin Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV8 Undesignat, built 2008
- Registration
- N678LL · registry record · serial 82233
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot stated that, during the landing roll, the airplane's tail was still elevated when he felt the airplane "immediately veer hard left." He said he "immediately" applied some right rudder, but the airplane continued turning left and he then applied full right rudder. The additional application of right rudder had no effect. The airplane turned and skidded 90° and came to a stop after the right main landing gear collapsed. The right wing impacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies 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 landing defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 785 hours in all; 214 in this make and model; 10 in the last 30 days; 722 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 28, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 553 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 15, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO360-M1B (piston); 553 hours total
- Operator: Joplin Flyers Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: SLR Sulphur Springs TX at 4:00 pm
- Destination: JLN Joplin MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 6,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,700 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from JLN
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.