Amateur-built RV-6 accident near Howell, Michigan, April 5, 2005
On April 5, 2005 at about 5:45 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-6, registered N215CF, suffered minor damage in an accident near Howell, Michigan (Livingston County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout which resulted in the aircraft departing the runway pavement and nosing over. An additional cause was the pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition. Contributing factors were the gusty crosswind and the soft grass.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 2005 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Howell, Michigan · Livingston County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-6
- Registration
- N215CF · registry record · serial 24722
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The amateur-built airplane was substantially damaged when it departed the runway pavement and nosed over during the landing rollout. The pilot reported that he entered the traffic pattern for landing on runway 13. He stated that a three-point landing was made on the centerline and at idle engine power. He noted that as the airplane passed a hangar off the right side of the runway the prevailing crosswind was reduced. The pilot stated: "I was slow getting the left rudder off [and] the plane went left slightly. [The airplane] got hit hard by [a] blast of wind coming off the east side of the hangar [and] the plane nosed slightly more left. I'd estimate we were down to 25-30 knots when the left main wheel left the runway [and] hit the soft sod. The nose went down -- the tail came up [and] blew over. The aircraft came to rest inverted." Winds were from 220 degrees at 16 knots, gusting to 22 knots. Flight control and tail wheel steering continuity were confirmed.
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: 2,365 hours in all; 352 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 2,183 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 11, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 546 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 2004; 86.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OZW Howell MI at 4:45 pm
- Destination: OZW
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 4,300 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 16 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 5:40 pm from OZW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.