Amateur-built VANS RV-8A accident near Elberta, Alabama, September 14, 2022
On September 14, 2022 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 2004 amateur-built VANS RV-8A, registered N955DK, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Elberta, Alabama (Shields airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate descent rate during the landing approach, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent nose over during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 2022 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Elberta, Alabama · Shields · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VANS RV-8A, built 2004
- Registration
- N955DK · registry record · serial 81538
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot described that during the landing approach to the turf runway, while about 50 feet above the runway threshold, he reduced engine power and the airplane began to descend rapidly. He responded by increasing engine power, but the airplane impacted the ground and nosed over. The airplane’s fuselage and vertical stabilizer were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,670 hours in all; 140 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 413.8 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 8, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1A (piston); 413 hours total
- Operator: R&V Properties LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KMCB Mccomb MS at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 2,175 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 12:56 pm from KNPA, 9 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KNPA 141756Z 06007KT 10SM FEW250 29/15 A3003 RMK SLP169 FU DSNT N-NE T02940150 10300 20167 58004
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 May 11, 2023. 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 | Memorandum for Record - Pilot Interview Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot (FAA) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Witness Interview (FAA) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array | 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.