Amateur-built RV-4 accident near Erie, North Dakota, September 13, 1986
On September 13, 1986 at about 6:00 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-4, registered N319ER, was substantially damaged in an accident near Erie, North Dakota (Schroeder (Private) airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 1986 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Erie, North Dakota · Schroeder (Private) · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-4
- Registration
- N319ER · registry record · serial 319
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT SAID HE WAS MAKING A SHORT FIELD APCH TO A PRIVATE, SOD, STRIP. HE SAID HE WAS IN A SHALLOW LT BANK ON FINAL APCH WHEN HE NOTICED THE ACFT WAS IN A SLIP AND DESCENDING TOO FAST TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH TREES 500 FT FROM THE APCH END OF THE STRIP. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE TREES AND CRASHED IN A PLOWED FIELD SHORT OF THE RWY.
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: 1,200 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 1,060 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 38 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 2, 1986; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,507 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: West Fargo ND at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:00 pm from FAR, 27 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.
Other NTSB records under N319ER 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.