Amateur-built VANS RV6A accident near West Palm Beach, Florida, August 10, 2014
On August 10, 2014 at about 3:23 pm local time, a 1998 amateur-built VANS RV6A, registered N214MJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Palm Beach, Florida (Palm Beach County Park Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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 excessive landing speed, which resulted in a runway excursion and noseover. Contributing to the accident was a partial loss of engine power during an attempted go-around for reasons that could not be determined because no anomalies were identified during postaccident examination.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 2014 · about 3:23 pm local time
- Place
- West Palm Beach, Florida · Palm Beach County Park Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VANS RV6A, built 1998
- Registration
- N214MJ · registry record · serial 23212
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, about 20 minutes into the flight and at 5,500 feet above mean sea level, the engine began "missing" but continued to run. This occurred about every minute and lasted about 1 second each time. He reported the engine issue to air traffic control, climbed the airplane to 10,000 feet, and eventually elected to divert to an airport about 13 miles away. He set up for an approach to land to the west; however, he crossed the runway threshold about 25 feet above the ground and at 110 knots. Unable to slow the airplane to a safe landing speed, he attempted a go-around. The engine "appeared to rev up" but he observed little power being produced. He discontinued the go-around and landed straight ahead. The airplane overran the runway at the departure end, and the pilot applied rudder and aileron controls to avoid striking a perimeter fence. The airplane flipped over and came to rest inverted, with substantial damage to both wings and extensive damage to the fuselage. The airplane was equipped with an electronic flight information system; however, it did not record any useful data. The airplane's fuel tanks appeared to contain an adequate amount of fuel for the flight. The engine was examined and no anomalies or failures were observed. The reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined after a full examination of the wreckage.
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
- 402342 during 402
- 600440 during other
- 552300 during descent - emergency
- 552096 during descent - emergency
The NTSB's findings
- factor Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land, none, none, none
- Flight time: 117 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 73 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: class 3
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,765 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 6, 2014; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Aero Sport Power I0-360-M1 (piston); 632 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: ISM Kissimmee FL at 2:20 pm
- Destination: HWO Pembroke Pines FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,489 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scattered at 3,100 ft
- Temperature: 88°C, dew point 75°C
- Altimeter: 30.059999 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from PBI, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
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 ERA14LA382.