Amateur-built RV-4 accident near Lincoln, California, October 4, 1986
On October 4, 1986 at about 10:00 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-4, registered N63SM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lincoln, California (Lincoln Municipal 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 1986 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lincoln, California · Lincoln Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-4
- Registration
- N63SM · registry record · serial 63
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LOCAL TEST FLIGHT OF AN EXPERIMENTAL HOME BUILT ACFT, THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AT APRX 3000 FT AGL. UNABLE TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT, THE PLT LANDED IN AN OPEN FIELD. APRX ONE FT ABOVE THE TWO FOOT HIGH GRASS, THE PLT RAISED THE NOSE TO FLARE WHEN THE ACFT ENTERED A STALL. THE LEFT WING DROPPED AND DRAGGED ON THE GROUND. THE MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED UPON TOUCHDOWN AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT A SAFETY WIRE HAD NOT BEEN INSTALLED AND THE GASCALATOR WAS LOOSE. APRX 1 TABLESPOON OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL LINES BETWEEN THE GASCALATOR AND THE CARBURETOR.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,189 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,574 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 3, 1986; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-AIA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 6,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from MVY, 18 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N63SM the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.