Vans Aircraft RV-6T accident near Pettigrew, Arkansas, April 2, 2000
On April 2, 2000 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Vans Aircraft RV-6T, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N96VA, was destroyed in an accident near Pettigrew, Arkansas. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's continued flight into known adverse weather and his failure to maintain obstacle clearance. Contributing factors were adverse weather conditions, and the pilot's disregard for the forecasted adverse weather.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 2000 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pettigrew, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Vans Aircraft RV-6T, amateur-built
- Registration
- N96VA · registry record · serial 2
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to departing on the cross-country flight, the non-instrument rated private pilot obtained a standard weather briefing from an automated flight service station (AFSS). The AFSS briefer advised the pilot that there were flight advisories for instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), moderate turbulence, and moderate icing along the route of flight and VFR flight was not recommended. Witnesses located near the accident site heard the experimental airplane circling the wooded, mountainous area for about 10-15 minutes prior to hearing the sounds of the airplane impacting trees. The witnesses reported that the weather was foggy, and they estimated that the visibility was less than 400 feet. Examination of the airframe and engine did not disclose any structural or mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal operation. The airplane was not equipped for flight in IMC.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,553 hours in all; 2,523 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 2H2 Aurora MO
- Destination: DTN Shreveport LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 0.1 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N96VA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 FTW00FA113.