Amateur-built RV-6A accident near Stanwood, Washington, February 16, 2008
On February 16, 2008 at about 8:50 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-6A, registered N154RM, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Stanwood, Washington (Arlington Municipal airport). 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 pilot's failure to maintain airspeed above stall (Vs) during an emergency landing that lead to a stall and uncontrolled descent. Contributing to the accident was the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 16, 2008 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Stanwood, Washington · Arlington Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-6A
- Registration
- N154RM · no longer on the register · serial 25117
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was in radio communications with her husband, who was on the ground. She stated that she had "lost power" and was landing in a field. No additional information was relayed by the pilot. A witness reported to the sheriff that he heard a sound of an airplane approaching, saw it descending in altitude, and then heard it impact the ground. The wreckage was located in an open field, with the nose of the airplane imbedded into the ground, and the tail elevated at an angle of 45 degrees above the horizon. No other ground scars were evident leading to the airplane wreckage. The wreckage configuration was consistent with the end result of an aerodynamic stall followed by an uncontrolled descent at low altitude. No evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies were identified during the postaccident examination of the engine and airplane.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Loss of control in flight during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- factor Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,154 hours in all; 241 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 824.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Aero Sport Power Ltd O-320-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KAWO Arlington WA at 8:30 pm
- Destination: Camano Is WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,300 ft; scat at 3,600 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.36 inHg
- Observation at 8:35 pm from KAWO, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.