Amateur-built RV-6A accident near Comfort, Texas, December 9, 2001
On December 9, 2001 at about 8:30 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-6A, registered N61AZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Comfort, Texas (Comfort Airpark 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a hard landing and collapse of the nose landing gear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 9, 2001 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Comfort, Texas · Comfort Airpark Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-6A
- Registration
- N61AZ · no longer on the register · serial 20150
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Following a bounced initial touchdown, the nose landing gear collapsed during the second touchdown. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. According to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, the nose landing gear strut failed "due to an excessive aft-ward force occurring on final touchdown location."
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: 435 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 295 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 16, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 96 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 15, 2001; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E2D Sonora TX at 7:30 pm
- Destination: 1T5 Comfort TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 1,950 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.