Amateur-built RV-4 accident near Eaton, Ohio, October 31, 1989
On October 31, 1989 at about 11:25 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-4, registered N828BM, was destroyed in an accident near Eaton, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AND AN INADVERTENT SPIRAL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE DARK NIGHT AND INSTRUMENT LIGHTS NOT INSTALLED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 31, 1989 · about 11:25 pm local time
- Place
- Eaton, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-4
- Registration
- N828BM · registry record · serial 418
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ONE WITNESS OBSERVED 'A SOLID GREEN LIGHT...DROP OUT OF THE SKY.' THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A STEEP ANGLE. THERE WERE NO INSTRUMENT LIGHTS INSTALLED. THE LIGHT CONDITIONS WERE DESCRIBED AS DARK.
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: 200 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 160 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: LNP Wise VA
- Destination: RID Richmond IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from DAY, 25 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N828BM the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.