Amateur-built RV-6 accident near Sinton, Texas, April 2, 2007
On April 2, 2007 at about 1:30 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-6, registered N606S, was destroyed in an accident near Sinton, Texas (San Patricio County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of control while performing an instrument approach. A contributing factor was the prevailing fog.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 2007 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sinton, Texas · San Patricio County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-6
- Registration
- N606S · no longer on the register · serial 60213
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 18,730-hour airline transport rated pilot lost control of the homebuilt airplane while executing a GPS instrument approach to Runway 14 at a non-towered airport. The airport has two instrument approaches to Runway 14; a VOR/DME and a GPS. The published weather minimums for the GPS approach to Runway 14 was 500-foot ceiling and one mile visibility. One witness stated that the pilot made "two passes" before crashing at the runway's east end, and also stated that heavy fog prevailed at the time of the accident. Another witness said that they heard two "loud pops," came outside and saw smoke and a small fire, but no airplane. This witness also confirmed that it was foggy at the time. A post-impact fire consumed most of the airframe. A detailed examination of the airplane failed to reveal any anomalies with the airframe, structure, or systems. The engine was examined, and no mechanical anomalies were found. The examination of the propeller revealed one blade was slightly bent "forward"; the other blade did not have the appearance of being bent. Both blades had leading edge polishing. The propeller signatures are consistent with a propeller absorbing rotational energy with power into soft soil or sand. The flap actuator was found in the extended position, corresponding to a flaps "up" position. The automated weather station, located approximately 17-miles south of the accident site, reported at 0851; a 5-mile visibility in mist, a scattered sky at 10,000 feet and winds from 140 degrees at 6 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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 18,730 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 1T7 Kestrel Airpark TX at 12:53 pm
- Destination: T69 Sinton TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 14, 4,323 ft by 55 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 pm from KCRP, 17 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.
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.