Amateur-built RV 8 and amateur-built RV 6 mid-air collision near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, March 29, 2015
On March 29, 2015 at about 6:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built RV 8 (N8JL) and amateur-built RV 6 (N722DK), were involved in a mid-air collision near Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Tuscaloosa Rgnl airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The RV-8 pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the RV-6 while maneuvering during an air show, which resulted in a midair collision.
The RV-8 pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the RV-6 while maneuvering during an air show, which resulted in a midair collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 2015 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tuscaloosa, Alabama · Tuscaloosa Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built RV 8, built 2001
- Registration
- N8JL · registry record · serial 81324
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built RV 6, built 2002
- Registration
- N722DK · registry record · serial 24298
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built RV 8 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The two experimental amateur-built airplanes were part of an air show team that was participating in an air show. At the time of the accident, an RV-6 and another airplane were flying in formation at an altitude of 500 ft above the ground, while the pilot an RV-8 intended to circle around the two airplanes from behind. While circling in a counter-clockwise direction, the RV-8 converged on the two airplanes flying in formation. The propeller of the RV-6, and the right elevator and horizontal stabilizer of the RV-8 made contact. The pilot of the RV-6 reported that the maneuver called for the RV-8 to be 100 ft behind the leading airplane. He was flying straight and level and focused on the airplane flying in formation on his left side when his airplane began to experience a sudden severe vibration. The pilot of the RV-8 reported that his airplane had overtaken the two airplanes and that he did not correct to compensate. He observed one of the airplanes pass off his left and heard a "bang" at that time. The RV-6 sustained minor damage to its propeller and the RV-8 sustained substantial damage to its right elevator and horizontal stabilizer. Both airplanes subsequently landed without further incident.
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 RV 6 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The two experimental amateur-built airplanes were part of an air show team that was participating in an air show. At the time of the accident, an RV-6 and another airplane were flying in formation at an altitude of 500 ft above the ground, while the pilot an RV-8 intended to circle around the two airplanes from behind. While circling in a counter-clockwise direction, the RV-8 converged on the two airplanes flying in formation. The propeller of the RV-6, and the right elevator and horizontal stabilizer of the RV-8 made contact. The pilot of the RV-6 reported that the maneuver called for the RV-8 to be 100 ft behind the leading airplane. He was flying straight and level and focused on the airplane flying in formation on his left side when his airplane began to experience a sudden severe vibration. The pilot of the RV-8 reported that his airplane had overtaken the two airplanes and that he did not correct to compensate. He observed one of the airplanes pass off his left and heard a "bang" at that time. The RV-6 sustained minor damage to its propeller and the RV-8 sustained substantial damage to its right elevator and horizontal stabilizer. Both airplanes subsequently landed without further incident.
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 8 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during maneuvering (aerobatics) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 19,100 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 15,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 7, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,243 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 27, 2015; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Eci DIOX-370 (piston); 375 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TCL Tuscaloosa AL at 6:05 pm
- Destination: TCL Tuscaloosa AL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,600 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from TCL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the amateur-built RV 6 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 731 hours in all; 146 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 7, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,142 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, December 5, 2014; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 1,648 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TCL Tuscaloosa AL at 6:00 pm
- Destination: TCL Tuscaloosa AL
- Flight plan: none
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.