Amateur-built RV8 accident near Guthrie, Oklahoma, August 15, 2024
On August 15, 2024 at about 1:21 am local time, a 2018 amateur-built RV8, registered N184DC, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Guthrie, Oklahoma (Ellis/Harvey 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
A loss of engine power due to the separation and ingestion of an air filter retaining bracket into the engine cylinder.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 2024 · about 1:21 am local time
- Place
- Guthrie, Oklahoma · Ellis/Harvey · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV8 A, built 2018
- Registration
- N184DC · registry record · serial 80744
- 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 about 40 ft above ground level (agl) during the initial climb from the grass airstrip, engine cylinder Nos. 2 and 3 lost power. About 10 seconds later, engine cylinder Nos. 1 and 4 lost power. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude. He switched fuel tanks in an attempt to regain engine power but noted no change in the engine performance. The airplane impacted trees beyond the departure end of the runway and sustained substantial damage to both wings, fuselage, and empennage. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed an air filter retaining bracket that was fastened to a fiberglass air snorkel/box had separated and was ingested into the No. 2 cylinder. The separated bracket then jammed the intake valve into the open position, resulting in a loss of engine power. Elongation was noted on the fiberglass where the rivets secured the fabricated retaining bracket.
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 engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › (general) › (general) › Failure
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Fabrication › Owner/builder
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,666 hours in all; 598 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,666 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 19, 2024
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 592.7 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 15, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Superior XP-IO-360-B1A (piston); 592 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 2OK2 Newalla OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,400 ft by 90 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 160° at 11 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KGOK, 2 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KGOK 150053Z AUTO 16011G17KT 10SM 33/22 A2987 RMK AO2 SLP101 T03330222 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on April 1, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Engine Examination Summary | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Dynon Flight Data | spreadsheet | Download |
| 4 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation - Superior Air Parts | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Investigation Photograph | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.