Rans RV8 accident near Morris, Illinois, August 10, 2024
On August 10, 2024 at about 4:15 pm local time, a 1999 Rans RV8, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N348CW, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Morris, Illinois (Morris Washburn Airport). It was an instructional 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 student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control and the flight instructors delayed remedial action while landing with a gusty crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 2024 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Morris, Illinois · Morris Washburn Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rans RV8, built 1999, amateur-built
- Registration
- N348CW · registry record · serial 8044-99
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot executed a normal landing to runway 36 in the tailwheel airplane, and the flight instructor guarded the controls. The flight instructor stated that the landing was excellent and on centerline of the runway. During rollout, a level, tail-up attitude was maintained as the airplane slowed. As soon as the tailwheel contacted the runway, the airplane began an unexpected swerve to the right. The flight instructor stated that no input from him or his student caused the swerve. Both the student pilot and the flight instructor tried to correct the swerve; however, the airplane did not respond to inputs of full left rudder and full left brake. The airplane ground looped, hit a ditch, and sustained substantial damage to the left side of the fuselage adjacent to the left wing attachment point. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact anomalies with the tailwheel assembly, main wheel brakes, or the flight controls that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. The reported wind about the time of the accident was 280° at 13 knots with gusts to 16 knots. The flight instructor estimated the wind at the time of the accident was 330° at 5 knots.
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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Other weather encounter during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: sport pilot; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,253 hours in all; 426 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: September 9, 2023
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 0 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,236 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 15, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 125 hours total
The flight
- Runway 36, 5,501 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 13 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 4:15 pm from KC09
Weather report (METAR): KC09 102115Z AUTO 29010KT 10SM BKN050 23/12 A3011 RMK AO2 T02250116
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on October 24, 2024. 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 | NTSB Form 6120 Pilot Operator Report CEN24LA324 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for the Record Examination Findings CEN24LA324 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for the Record Student Pilot Information CEN24LA324 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for the Record Telephone Conversation CEN24LA324 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Investigation Photographs CEN24LA324 | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | 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.