Amateur-built RV6 accident near Sewanne, Tennessee, June 25, 2010
On June 25, 2010 at about 8:00 pm local time, a amateur-built RV6, registered N3856D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Sewanne, Tennessee (Franklin County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 2010 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sewanne, Tennessee · Franklin County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV6 A
- Registration
- N3856D · no longer on the register · serial 23160
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, after completing a local flight approximately 1 hour in duration, he returned for landing at his home airport. He then "attempted to land too fast and too high." The airplane bounced twice and veered off the side of the runway into the grass. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures.
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
What happened, in order
- Abnormal runway contact during landing defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: flight engineer, private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 200 hours in all; 7 in this make and model
- Last flight review: December 23, 1994
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 5, 2010; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UOS Sewanne TN at 7:00 pm
- Destination: UOS Sewanne TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,700 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 24 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from CHA, 36 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.