Amateur-built RV-9A accident near Brunswick, Georgia, December 26, 2012
On December 26, 2012 at about 11:00 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-9A, registered N281MC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Brunswick, Georgia (Malcolm Mckinnon Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control while landing in gusting wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 26, 2012 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Brunswick, Georgia · Malcolm Mckinnon Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-9A
- Registration
- N281MC · registry record · serial 91117
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the pilot and airplane owner approached the destination airport, the pilot received a radio call from another pilot who reported leaving the traffic pattern at the destination airport because of wind conditions. The pilot continued his approach to land on runway 34 but later aborted the landing due to strong crosswind conditions. After obtaining current wind information from the airport’s universal communications frequency, he decided to attempt a landing on runway 22. After the airplane crossed the airport perimeter fence, the airplane’s nose impacted the ground and the airplane subsequently skidded down the left side of the runway before coming to rest. A postcrash fire consumed much of the wreckage with the exception of the empennage and outboard sections of both wings. At the time of the accident, airport ground personnel reported wind from 260 degrees at 18 knots gusting to 26 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
What happened, in order
- Abnormal runway contact during landing defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
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 › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,050 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,850 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 17, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 510 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 26, 2012; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-360 A1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 1R8 Bay Minette AL at 8:30 pm
- Destination: SSI Brunswick GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 22, 5,584 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 270° at 13 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from SSI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N281MC 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 ERA13CA098.