Amateur-built RV-3 accident near Carmel, California, November 27, 1986
On November 27, 1986 at about 8:33 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-3, registered N135RV, was destroyed in an accident near Carmel, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- November 27, 1986 · about 8:33 pm local time
- Place
- Carmel, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-3
- Registration
- N135RV · no longer on the register · serial 783
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE EXPERIMENTAL HOMEBUILT ACFT WAS PERFORMING AEROBATICS CONSISTING OF LOOPS, ROLLS AND HIGH SPEED CLIMBS FROM PULL-OUTS. THE ACFT LIMITATIONS ALLOWED FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF AEROBATICS, WHICH INCLUDED THE MANEUVERS THE PLT WAS PERFORMING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT PULL UP INTO A HIGH SPEED CLIMB AT THE CONCLUSION OF A SERIES OF ROLLS. THE WINGS SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT AT THE TOP OF THE CLIMB. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, NO PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS OR MECHANICAL DEFECTS WERE IDENTIFIED. AS CALCULATED, THE ACFT WAS OVER MAX GROSS WEIGHT BY 7 LBS AND THE CENTER OF GRAVITY WAS AFT OF THE REAR LIMIT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 14,300 hours in all; 950 in the last 90 days; 300 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 142 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 062 Carmel Valley CA at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from SNS, 12 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.
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.