Amateur-built RV-6A accident near Hesperia, California, June 20, 2006
On June 20, 2006 at about 6:30 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-6A, registered N31RM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hesperia, California (Hesperia airport). 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
the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning and selection of the wrong runway, which resulted in a downwind landing, the pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point, and a runway overrun.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 2006 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hesperia, California · Hesperia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-6A
- Registration
- N31RM · registry record · serial 22882
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane overran the runway after landing and impacted the airport perimeter fence. After entering the destination airport environment, the pilot requested airport advisories for landing on Universal Communications (UNICOM), but received no answer. He decided to land on runway 3 and asked his passenger to confirm the wind direction. After looking out the window, the passenger confirmed the wind direction and agreed with the pilot's decision to land on runway 3. During the landing flare, the pilot realized that he had landed the airplane long and fast due to a tailwind condition. He was unable to stop the airplane before the end of the runway, and it collided with the airport perimeter fence. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. A local area airport, 24 nautical miles from the accident airport, reported winds from 240 degrees at 10 knots.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,643 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 1,643 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APV Apple Valley CA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: L26 Hesperia CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 3,910 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from ONT, 24 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.