Amateur-built VANS RV 4 accident near San Marcos, Texas, October 12, 2015
On October 12, 2015 at about 10:17 pm local time, a 1986 amateur-built VANS RV 4, registered N165DR, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near San Marcos, Texas (San Marcos Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and an impact with an airport sign.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 2015 · about 10:17 pm local time
- Place
- San Marcos, Texas · San Marcos Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VANS RV 4 NO SERIES, built 1986
- Registration
- N165DR · no longer on the register · serial 197
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll, traveling about 45 to 55 knots, he encountered a crosswind. The airplane veered off the runway to the left into the wind and collided with a taxiway sign. The airplane came to a stop in grass adjacent to the runway. The fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. About the time of the accident, a routine aviation weather report at the airport reported the wind at 190 degrees true at 12 knots and the runway heading was 260 degrees magnetic, which resulted in an 11 knot crosswind component.
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
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 304.2 hours in all; 212.1 in this make and model; 3.2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 304.2 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 17, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 862 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 22, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Superior IO-360-B1A (piston); 423 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BAZ New Braunfels TX at 10:10 pm
- Destination: HYI San Marcos TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 6,330 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from KHYI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on December 14, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.