Amateur-built RV6-A accident near Jerseyville, Illinois, July 8, 2008
On July 8, 2008 at about 11:45 am local time, a amateur-built RV6-A, registered N653DF, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Jerseyville, Illinois. 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 muddy, unsuitable terrain encountered during the landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 2008 · about 11:45 am local time
- Place
- Jerseyville, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV6-A
- Registration
- N653DF · registry record · serial 22066
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane received substantial damage when it nosed over during landing. The pilot reported that he performed a crosswind short field landing on the turf runway. He stated that while rolling out, the nose wheel sunk into mud and bent rearward and the airplane nosed over. Examination of the runway revealed a low spot where the accident occurred that had been softened by recent rain.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Runway/landing area condition › Not specified
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Soft › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 701 hours in all; 198 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 650 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 246 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, January 1, 2008
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ALN Alton/St Louis IL at 11:20 am
- Destination: Kampsville IL
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.