Amateur-built RDA 04 accident near Clovis, New Mexico, October 11, 2005
On October 11, 2005 at about 3:52 pm local time, a amateur-built RDA 04, registered N835RA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clovis, New Mexico (Clovis Muni airport). 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
a loss of engine power due to water contamination of the fuel system. The inadequate placement of the fuel system drain by the builder was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 11, 2005 · about 3:52 pm local time
- Place
- Clovis, New Mexico · Clovis Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RDA 04
- Registration
- N835RA · registry record · serial 82835
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted terrain while attempting to return to the runway following a loss of engine power in the takeoff initial climb. The pilot/owner reported that he had sumped the fuel system prior to the flight. After the accident, the pilot sumped the fuel tanks and found water. The pilot found that the placement of the fuel drain did not facilitate the removal of water from the wing tanks.
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
- Flight time: 1,688 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,688 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 242 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 610 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: 1/2 Volkswagen AE378410 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CVN Clovis NM
- Destination: CVN Clovis NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 022, 6,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 9,500 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 1:35 pm from CVN
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.