Amateur-built RV-4 accident near Homer, Louisiana, November 25, 2002
On November 25, 2002 at about 1:30 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-4, registered N5246, was destroyed in an accident near Homer, Louisiana (Homer Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's VFR flight into IMC conditions and his failure to obtain/maintain altitude/clearance from trees during the initial climb after takeoff. Contributing factors were fog and trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 25, 2002 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Homer, Louisiana · Homer Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-4
- Registration
- N5246 · no longer on the register · serial 282
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-instrument rated private pilot took off from the airport in instrument meteorological conditions for a cross country flight. Witnesses close to the accident site reported that very thick fog was in the area at the time of the accident. The witnesses heard the aircraft depart from the runway and make a right turn. A few minutes later, the engine was heard to "sputter," then "race up in rpm" followed by the sound of the impact with trees. The wreckage was located just north of the departure end of the runway in a marsh area that surrounded the airport. The initial impact was with trees approximately 30 feet in height. The airplane came to rest nose down in approximately 3 feet of water and was destroyed from the cabin forward. The airport guide notes that approximate 60 foot trees are located about 205 feet off both ends of the runway thresholds and about 195 to 200 feet from runway centerline.
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: 530 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5F4 Homer LA at 1:20 pm
- Destination: Beaux Bridge LA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 0.5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 200 ft; ovct
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 1:21 pm from SHV, 47 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N5246 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.