Rocky Mountain Kitplanes LLC S-6S accident near Marvel, Arkansas, June 23, 2026
On June 23, 2026 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 2006 Rocky Mountain Kitplanes LLC S-6S, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N164GR, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Marvel, Arkansas (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial blockage of the pitot static system that precluded the airspeed indicator from displaying the correct airspeed which led to the faster landing speed and bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 2026 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Marvel, Arkansas · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rocky Mountain Kitplanes LLC S-6S, built 2006, amateur-built
- Registration
- N164GR · registry record · serial 11051709
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane departed the pilot’s private grass strip airport. Shortly after, the pilot noticed that the airspeed was indicating lower than normal. Presuming that the pitot tube was partially obstructed, the pilot decided to land the airplane. Due to the inaccurate airspeed, the pilot flew a faster than normal approach. Upon landing, the airplane bounced, and the nose gear strut broke. The propeller struck the ground, the airplane nosed over, and it came to rest inverted on the grass runway. The right wing and vertical stabilizer were substantially damaged. Other than a possibly obstructed pitot tube, the pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pitot-static system was unable to be functionally tested due to the pitot-static system being damaged in the accident sequence. A post-accident examination of the pitot-tube and the pitot-static tubing did not reveal any blockage or obstruction; however, it is possible it was dislodged during the impact sequence.
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
- Nose over/nose down during landing
- Abnormal runway contact during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Attain/maintain not possible
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail gear strut/axle › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail gear strut/axle › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 315 hours in all; 28.9 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 240 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 12, 2024
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 695 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912UL (piston); 695 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Priv Marvel AR at 8:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,950 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from KSGT, 18 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSGT 231956Z AUTO 07006KT 10SM OVC027 26/21
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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
4 documents, released by the NTSB on September 17, 2026. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for Record - FAA | 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.