Amateur-built VANS RV-8 accident near Atlanta, Georgia, September 13, 2021
On September 13, 2021, a 2011 amateur-built VANS RV-8, registered N798RT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Atlanta, Georgia (Atlanta Regional Airport-Falco). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
A loss of directional control and subsequent runway excursion resulting as a result of the inadvertent rudder input by the passenger.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 2021
- Place
- Atlanta, Georgia · Atlanta Regional Airport-Falco · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VANS RV-8 NO SERIES, built 2011
- Registration
- N798RT · no longer on the register · serial 83105
- 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 during landing rollout, the airplane began to veer to the left and he attempted to counter with a right rudder input. He stated that the rudder pedals seemed jammed, and the airplane continued to veer to the left side of the runway. He quickly applied right brake, but it was not enough, and the airplane departed the runway and entered a marshy area, which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and fuselage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies prior to the accident. During a telephone interview, the pilot stated that his passenger was experienced a leg cramp and was depressed the left rudder pedal during the landing roll. A statement received from the passenger confirmed the leg cramp.
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
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Unnecessary action › Passenger
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 21,669 hours in all; 563 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 14,973 as pilot in command; 291 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 12, 2021
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 569.5 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 15, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Aero Sport Power IO-375-B1B (piston); 569 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5R4 Foley AL at 10:11 pm
- Destination: FFC Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 5,768 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KFFC
Weather report (METAR): METAR KFFC 212053Z AUTO VRB05KT 10SM FEW035 SCT046 27/23 A3002 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT E SLP160 T02670228 56018=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on May 5, 2022. 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 | Pax Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Mor FAA Damage Assessment | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 1 page | 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.