Amateur-built RV-4 accident near O'Brien, Florida, November 9, 2024
On November 9, 2024 at about 4:02 pm local time, a 2020 amateur-built RV-4, registered N214FL, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near O'Brien, Florida (O'Brien Airpark East/West 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
A total loss of engine power and navigational equipment as a result of a faulty battery.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 9, 2024 · about 4:02 pm local time
- Place
- O'Brien, Florida · O'Brien Airpark East/West · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-4, built 2020
- Registration
- N214FL · registry record · serial 2495
- 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 approximately 7 miles from his destination airport, he reduced the engine power to descend when, “suddenly everything went dark” and the engine lost all power. The automotive automotive-style powerplant ignition system is was dependent upon the airplane’s battery system. Unable to restart the engine, the pilot attempted a forced landing in a field. The pilot was unable to operate the electrically electrically-driven flaps, and as a result, he over flew a series of hay fields before touching down in a third field. The airplane approached a barbed wire fence at the end of the field, so the pilot attempted to steer away from it, . however, theThe right wing and main landing gear dug into the terrain and spun the airplane around. Substantial damage to the airplane fuselage resulted, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. A postaccident examination of the airplane by the pilot found that the airplane’s battery hadwas having intermittent voltage drops as a result of an internal crack in the bridge between cells.
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 engine power (total) during enroute defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Ignition power supply › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,139 hours in all; 96 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,091 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 19, 2024
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 125 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 1, 2024; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Mazda 13-B (piston); 150 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9FL5 Bell FL at 3:52 pm
- Destination: FL10 Mcalpin FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from GNV, 39 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KGNV 091653Z 09006KT 10SM FEW033 SCT050 27/22 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP191 T02670217 $=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on April 22, 2025. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigative Photos | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 ERA25LA056.