Amateur-built RV-6A accident near Backus, Minnesota, May 27, 2003
On May 27, 2003 at about 10:35 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-6A, registered N72159, was substantially damaged in an accident near Backus, Minnesota (Backus Municipal 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
The pilot's inadequate flare and recovery from a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 2003 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- Backus, Minnesota · Backus Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-6A
- Registration
- N72159 · registry record · serial 22362
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experimental amateur-built airplane sustained substantial damage when it bounced and nosed over during landing. The pilot reported that the main landing gear touched down earlier than he had expected. The pilot stated that he recently became part owner in the accident aircraft. He accumulated a total time of 8.9 hours in the RV-6A model of aircraft, of which 4 hours were in the past 30 days.
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
- Flight time: 74 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 74 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 7, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 5, 2002; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Avco Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KFCM Minneapolis MN at 9:26 pm
- Destination: 7Y3 Backus MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,588 ft by 145 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from PWC, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.