Amateur-built RV-6A and amateur-built VANS RV-8A accident near Cambridge, Maryland, October 26, 2008
On October 26, 2008 at about 2:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built RV-6A (N914ES) and amateur-built VANS RV-8A (N88FG), were involved in the same accident near Cambridge, Maryland (Cambridge-Dorchester Airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the RV-6A's right brake assembly o-ring due to excessive heat.
The failure of the RV-6A's right brake assembly o-ring due to excessive heat.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 26, 2008 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cambridge, Maryland · Cambridge-Dorchester Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built RV-6A
- Registration
- N914ES · no longer on the register · serial 20828
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built VANS RV-8A
- Registration
- N88FG · registry record · serial 1918
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built RV-6A final · quoted from the NTSB record
Following an uneventful flight and landing at the destination, the RV-6A was following the RV-8A to the parking area. The RV-8A parked first, and the pilot of the RV-6A planned to park his airplane immediately to the right of the RV-8A. As the RV-6A approached the stationary RV-8A from the right and perpendicular to the RV-8A, the RV-6A pilot applied right brake in order to turn the airplane into the intended parking spot. The brake "failed totally," and the right wing and propeller of the RV-6A struck the other airplane, resulting in substantial damage to both airplanes. Examination of the o-ring between the main brake housing and the piston on the right wheel brake assembly revealed that it was dimensionally different than a newly manufactured o-ring, due to damage induced by excessive heat.
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 NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built VANS RV-8A final · quoted from the NTSB record
Following an uneventful flight and landing at the destination, the RV-6A was following the RV-8A to the parking area. The RV-8A parked first, and the pilot of the RV-6A planned to park his airplane immediately to the right of the RV-8A. As the RV-6A approached the stationary RV-8A from the right and perpendicular to the RV-8A, the RV-6A pilot applied right brake in order to turn the airplane into the intended parking spot. The brake "failed totally," and the right wing and propeller of the RV-6A struck the other airplane, resulting in substantial damage to both airplanes. Examination of the o-ring between the main brake housing and the piston on the right wheel brake assembly revealed that it was dimensionally different than a newly manufactured o-ring, due to damage induced by excessive heat.
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 for the amateur-built RV-6A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Aircraft maintenance event during taxi (from runway)
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during taxi (from runway)
- Ground collision during taxi (from runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear brakes system › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,550 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,444 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 14, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 718 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 23, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EZF Fredericksburg VA at 1:15 pm
- Destination: CGE Cambridge MD
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 2:46 pm from CGE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
The factual record for the amateur-built VANS RV-8A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) shutdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear brakes system › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Flight time: 3,625 hours in all
- Last flight review: June 24, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-360 SER; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EZF Fredericksburg VA at 1:15 pm
- Destination: CGE Cambridge MD
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N914ES the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA09LA057.