Amateur-built VANS RV6 accident near Indianola, Iowa, April 17, 2017
On April 17, 2017 at about 3:45 pm local time, a 2007 amateur-built VANS RV6, registered N822DC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Indianola, Iowa (Nash Field Indianola). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate approach path, which resulted in a long landing and subsequent runway overrun.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 2017 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Indianola, Iowa · Nash Field Indianola · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VANS RV6 A, built 2007
- Registration
- N822DC · registry record · serial 60510
- 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 he overshot the wet, grass runway during landing and impacted a ditch. However, he added that he should have touched down at a slower speed and that the wet, grass runway affected the braking performance. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Runway excursion during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Wet surface › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 504 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 20, 2016
- Medical certificate: None (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 3 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PEA Pella IA at 3:00 pm
- Destination: IA66 Indianola IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,215 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from KDSM, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 20, 2017. 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 | Accident 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.