Amateur-built RV 4 200 accident near Cedar Key, Florida, April 7, 2023
On April 7, 2023 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 1989 amateur-built RV 4 200, registered N8DU, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Cedar Key, Florida (George T Lewis airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inadequate compensation for gusting wind conditions while landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 2023 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cedar Key, Florida · George T Lewis · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV 4 200, built 1989
- Registration
- N8DU · registry record · serial 1960
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he entered the traffic pattern at the destination airport and conducted a “stabilized” approach until just prior to touchdown, when the airplane experienced “mechanical turbulence which destabilized the approach.” The pilot initiated a go-around when a wind gust “lifted the right wing.” The airplane departed the left side of the runway and struck trees 100 ft left of the landing surface. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with 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
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 502 hours in all; 188 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 458 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 785 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 6, 2022; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 (piston); 780 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ORL Orlando FL at 8:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 2,355 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from CTY, 25 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCTY 072155Z AUTO 27009KT 10SM SCT090 28/20 A3007 RMK AO2=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA23LA187.