Amateur-built RV-6A accident near El Paso, Texas, June 19, 2002
On June 19, 2002 at about 3:05 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-6A, registered N799RQ, was substantially damaged in an accident near El Paso, Texas (El Paso International airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 2002 · about 3:05 pm local time
- Place
- El Paso, Texas · El Paso International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-6A
- Registration
- N799RQ · registry record · serial 25426
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the initial test flight in the experimental homebuilt, single-engine airplane, the pilot climbed the airplane to 7,000 feet msl over the airport. Following an increase in the oil temperature and a loss of engine power, the pilot was cleared to land the airplane on runway 26. The pilot reported the airplane was "too high and too fast" to make the runway. The controller cleared the pilot to land the airplane on any runway. The pilot attempted to land the airplane on runway 08; however, the airplane did not have enough altitude or power to reach the runway. The airplane landed at the approach end of runway 08, and during the landing roll, the airplane encountered soft sand and a ditch. The nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest inverted.
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: 326 hours in all; 12 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 242 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 9, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 23, 2002; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ELP El Paso TX at 2:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8R, 9,025 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 4:21 pm from ELP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.