Amateur-built RV-8 accident near Crawford, Texas, June 7, 2003
On June 7, 2003 at about 3:00 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-8, registered N888GK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Crawford, Texas (Scott Airport). It was a personal flight 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
The pilot's intentional ground looping of the airplane. A contributing factor was the pilot's improper in-flight planning resulting in an improper selection of a touchdown point.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 2003 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Crawford, Texas · Scott Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-8
- Registration
- N888GK · no longer on the register · serial 80006
- 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 while on final approach for runway 17, a 1,900 foot long by 120-foot wide grass runway, he stabilized the aircraft at 65 knots, aiming to touch down approximately one third of the way down the runway. The aircraft "floated slightly, then skipped before settling on the ground." The pilot stated the aircraft "touched down longer than he intended, and the aircraft was not slowed sufficiently to stop at the end of the runway." The pilot further stated that he "applied full left ruder (and tailwheel steering) to intentionally ground loop the airplane rather than go into a ditch at the end of the runway." Subsequently, the aircraft nosed over coming to rest in the inverted position.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 967 hours in all; 130 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 859 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 22, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 130 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2003; 28.1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LNC Lancaster TX at 2:30 pm
- Destination: 31TX Crawford TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 1,900 ft by 120 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N888GK 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.