Amateur-built RV-6A accident near Mattawan, Michigan, July 19, 2002
On July 19, 2002 at about 8:10 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-6A, registered N747BS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mattawan, Michigan (Mattawn Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure by the pilot in command to attain a proper touchdown point considering the available runway length. The rough, uneven runway surface and the soft area at the far end of the runway were contributing factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 2002 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Mattawan, Michigan · Mattawn Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-6A
- Registration
- N747BS · registry record · serial 24728
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane floated during the landing flare and according to the pilot, touched down further down field than usual. During the rollout, under heavy braking, the airplane encountered a "soft, sandy dip" toward the far end of the turf runway. The nose wheel dug-in and subsequently collapsed. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 593 hours in all; 149 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 539 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 13, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 149 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2002; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LSE La Crosse WI at 5:00 pm
- Destination: 8MI3 Mattawan MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 2,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; scat at 3,400 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from AZO, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI02CA202.