Amateur-built RV6 accident near Winnemucca, Nevada, July 21, 2000
On July 21, 2000 at about 8:20 pm local time, a amateur-built RV6, registered N64ME, was substantially damaged in an accident near Winnemucca, Nevada (Winnemucca Muni 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
A loss of power due to overheating resulting from the failure of the engine build-up facility to install a vernatherm.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 2000 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Winnemucca, Nevada · Winnemucca Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV6
- Registration
- N64ME · registry record · serial MS-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After losing engine power, the amateur-built airplane encountered soft soil and nosed over after overrunning the runway during a forced landing at the airport. The flight left the San Francisco Bay area earlier in the day and was en route ultimately to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. In cruise the pilot saw that the engine oil temperature was nearing the upper limit and landed at the airport for it to cool off. After about an hour on the ground, the pilot performed a detailed preflight inspection and run-up, with no abnormalities detected. The pilot then departed for the next en route stop. About 10 minutes after departure, the engine oil temperature climbed once more to the red line limit and the pilot decided to turn around. Shortly thereafter, the oil temperature exceeded the red line limit and the engine began to lose power. The pilot reduced the throttle and set up for a landing on a highway and the engine power partially returned. The pilot then attempted to continue to the airport; however, the engine lost power short of the facility. The pilot said she was able to reach the runway, but was too low to make any traffic pattern maneuvers, and too high to land normally. The airplane touched down slightly fast near the halfway point on the runway and was unable to stop prior to overrunning the pavement end. The airplane encountered soft, sandy soil and nosed over. Disassembly of the engine found that the vernatherm was not installed, allowing the oil supply to bypass the oil cooler. The records disclosed that the engine was built-up about 90 hours prior to the accident by a firm which specializes in performance improvement rebuilds for the experimental aircraft market. The engine is a basic Lycoming IO-360 with several modifications for power improvement.
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: 876 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 782 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 90 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 30, 1999; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-EXP (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WMC at 9:30 pm
- Destination: EKO Elko NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 7,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 198°F (92°C), dew point 99°F (37°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from WMC
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.
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.