Amateur-built RV8 accident near Wilsonville, Alabama, June 16, 2007
On June 16, 2007 at about 6:15 pm local time, a amateur-built RV8, registered N222ES, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wilsonville, Alabama (Commander Airpark Inc airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 2007 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Wilsonville, Alabama · Commander Airpark Inc · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV8
- Registration
- N222ES · registry record · serial 80282
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 250-hour private pilot lost control of the tailwheel-equipped homebuilt airplane while landing on a 3,300-foot long, by 100-foot wide grass airstrip. The pilot reported that the mishap occurred while performing a normal landing on Runway 15. The pilot added that when he flared, the airplane bounce, assumed a nose high attitude, and veered to the left about 10 to 15 degrees. The pilot added that he applied full right rudder and applied full throttle; however, he was unable to counteract the airplane's left turning tendencies. The airplane continued to travel off of the runway and came to rest beside the runway. The pilot and passenger were able to egress the airplane unassisted. The nearest automated weather reporting station at was located approximately 14 miles west of the accident site. Near the time of the accident they were reporting variable winds at 3 knots, 10 miles visibility, with clear skies. The pilot, who reported having accumulated 40 hours in the make and model, stated that the winds at the time of the mishap were from 090 degrees at 5 to 7 knots.
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: 250 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 185 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8A1 Guntersville AL at 5:30 pm
- Destination: AL17 Wilsonville AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 3,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KEET, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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 N222ES 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.