Amateur-built RV-6A accident near Jackpot, Nevada, July 7, 2001
On July 7, 2001 at about 9:12 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-6A, registered N246RV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jackpot, Nevada (Franklin/Hayden Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the private pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 2001 · about 9:12 pm local time
- Place
- Jackpot, Nevada · Franklin/Hayden Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-6A
- Registration
- N246RV · registry record · serial 20910
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot lost control of the experimental amateur-built airplane while maneuvering near the destination airport and it descended to ground impact. The accident airplane was one of a group of four aircraft traveling together to attend a fly-in. According to the other pilots, the accident airplane completed a low pass near the destination airport. The airplane pitched nose up, gained altitude, then pitched nose down, followed by a rapid descent until impacting terrain in a near vertical attitude. A post-accident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no anomalies that would have prevented their 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 506 hours in all; 221 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 407 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 19, 1999
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,773.3 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 14, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7S3 Hillsboro OR at 5:30 pm
- Destination: 06U Jackpot NV
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from KRNO, 130 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.
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.