Amateur-built RV-4 accident near Mitchell, South Dakota, October 6, 2005
On October 6, 2005 at about 10:10 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-4, registered N149KC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mitchell, South Dakota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The mechanic's improper installation of the air filter assembly which resulted in foreign debris inside the carburetor. A factor associated with the accident was the rough terrain on which the airplane was landed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 6, 2005 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Mitchell, South Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-4
- Registration
- N149KC · registry record · serial 696
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with rough terrain during an off airport forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported that the engine lost power as he was leveling off shortly after takeoff. The pilot stated that he switched fuel tanks, checked the magnetos and carburetor heat, and verified that the fuel pump was on, but he was not able to regain full power. The pilot reported that since he had "considerable altitude", he turned around to stay close to the airport. He stated that he initially thought he would be able to make it back to the airport until the rate of descent increased and he determined that he was not going to make it back to the airport. The pilot initially attempted to land on a highway, but because of traffic, he elected to land in a rough pasture. Post accident inspection of the airplane revealed that bolts used to attach an air filter bracket to the carburetor had penetrated the carburetor bowl. When the filter bracket and bolts were removed, fuel, pieces of metal, and silicone came out of two of the four bolt holes. The pilot purchased the airplane on the day of the accident. A review of the aircraft logbooks indicated an entry dated May 18, 1999, stated, "Replaced nose cowling and spinner to install Vans airfilter kit."
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,000 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MHE Mitchell SD
- Destination: ROX Roseau MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.