Amateur-built RV-6 accident near Cloverdale, California, June 9, 2004
On June 9, 2004 at about 11:40 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-6, registered N621BP, was destroyed in an accident near Cloverdale, California (Cloverdale Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision and selection of the wrong runway, and his inadequate compensation for the gusting tail wind conditions, which resulted in a stall/mush.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made September 29, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 2004 · about 11:40 pm local time
- Place
- Cloverdale, California · Cloverdale Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-6
- Registration
- N621BP · registry record · serial 0001
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While attempting to land, the airplane impacted in a level attitude, about 10 feet short of the runway threshold. The airplane was landing to the southeast, using runway 14. Witnesses at the airport estimated that the winds were 15 knots gusting to 25 knots out of the northwest. A post impact fire destroyed the airplane. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors examined the airplane wreckage and found no evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure.
The NTSB's narratives can run to many pages; this is the opening. Read the full report at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N621BP the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database and is rewritten in plain English only where the NTSB used codes; the probable cause and narrative are the NTSB's own words. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX04LA235.