Smith RV-4 accident near Willows, California, April 15, 2000
On April 15, 2000 at about 6:19 pm local time, a Smith RV-4, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N63SM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Willows, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Disconnection of the elevator push rod due to the owner/builder's improper installation of the rear jam nut on the elevator pushrod.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 2000 · about 6:19 pm local time
- Place
- Willows, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Smith RV-4, amateur-built
- Registration
- N63SM · registry record · serial 63
- 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 lost elevator control while in cruise flight. He was attempting to land at an airport on a runway he was nearly aligned with. Using the manipulation of aircraft trim and throttle as a means of controlling the aircraft's pitch attitude, he tried to gain altitude by trimming the airplane in the full aft position, but found the elevator to be jammed. The pilot reduced the throttle and mixture and landed in a field. The airplane came to rest in an upright position. An FAA inspector examined the airplane following recovery and reported that control rod was improperly installed, allowing the rear jam nut on the elevator push rod to work loose. The push rod then rotated off the forward connection.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,780 hours in all; 460 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 1,739 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 484 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 3, 2000; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LHM Lincoln CA at 5:45 pm
- Destination: WLW
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 22 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:49 pm from CIC, 26 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 N63SM 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.