Amateur-built RV7A accident near Weston, Florida, July 3, 2016
On July 3, 2016 at about 1:30 pm local time, a 2010 amateur-built RV7A, registered N1075F, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Weston, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of airplane control for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 2016 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Weston, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV7A, built 2010
- Registration
- N1075F · no longer on the register · serial 71583
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight in the airplane, which he had recently purchased. Radar data showed that about 15 minutes after takeoff, the airplane was in cruise flight when it suddenly entered a left descending turn that continued to terrain impact. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions, and weather was not a factor. The 78-year-old pilot had a medical history that included coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, and the placement of a pacemaker. The pilot's heart disease could have contributed to the accident; however, the autopsy provided limited information and a readout of the pilot's pacemaker showed no evidence of arrhythmia around the time of the accident. Toxicology testing detected ethanol that was from postmortem production rather than ingestion. The investigation could not determine if some other medical event resulted in incapacitation or why the pilot may have lost control of the airplane.
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
- Loss of control in flight during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
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) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,599 hours in all; 2.5 in this make and model; 11.3 in the last 90 days; 3.2 in the last 30 days; 3,358 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 11, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 308 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 3, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A (piston); 308 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BCT Boca Raton FL at 1:15 pm
- Destination: OPF Miami FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; scat at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from KFXE, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on July 11, 2018. 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 | Fueling Records | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 2 | radar Plots | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Excerpts from Pilot Logbook | PDF, 16 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Excerpts from Maintenance Logbooks | PDF, 26 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Weather Reports and Image | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Electronic Devices Factual Report | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Wreckage Release and Evidence Control | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N1075F the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.