Amateur-built RV 8 accident near Monroe, North Carolina, June 6, 2015
On June 6, 2015 at about 6:05 pm local time, a 2002 amateur-built RV 8, registered N323RP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Monroe, North Carolina (Charlotte-Monroe Executive 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 failure to maintain directional control during the landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 2015 · about 6:05 pm local time
- Place
- Monroe, North Carolina · Charlotte-Monroe Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV 8, built 2002
- Registration
- N323RP · no longer on the register · serial 81238
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot stated that he made a "normal" landing in the tailwheel airplane and that the airplane began to veer right. The pilot applied rudder correction, but the airplane continued to the right, departed the runway, and traveled down an embankment. Examination of the runway revealed tire skid marks from the main landing gear consistent with the airplane touching down to the right of centerline, slightly angled toward the right side of the runway. The skid marks continued right, and departed the paved surface at an approximate 90° angle. There were no skid marks from the tailwheel. The pilot later stated that when the airplane was lifted, the tailwheel was unlocked, but the investigation could not determine whether it was unlocked before the accident or during the accident sequence. The pilot noted that postaccident maintenance of the airplane revealed no anomalies with the braking system.
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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
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 › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 8,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 561 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 281 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TCL Tuscaloosa AL at 3:38 pm
- Destination: EQY Monroe NC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 05, 7,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from EQY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on March 21, 2017. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector Observations | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum of Record - Excerpts, Supplemental Information | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.