Van'S Aircraft, Inc RV7A accident near Green Cove, Florida, February 20, 2007
On February 20, 2007 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Van'S Aircraft, Inc RV7A, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N938JF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Green Cove, Florida (Haller Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed to avoid a stall during the final approach to land, resulting in an in-flight loss of control, a hard landing, and a nose over. Factors associated with the accident are an inadvertent stall, and the pilot's improper use of the propeller pitch control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 20, 2007 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Green Cove, Florida · Haller Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Van'S Aircraft, Inc RV7A, amateur-built
- Registration
- N938JF · no longer on the register · serial 71994
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he departed the Haller Airpark for a local flight. The flight was 25 minutes in duration. On approach to runway 18, he came in short, and was trying to extend his glide path to clear an asphalt road that had been laid the week prior. He added engine power, but did not have enough power to clear the road, and stalled the airplane at the approach end of the runway. The airplane subsequently hit hard, bounced, and landed on the nose wheel, causing the airplane to flip over. After the accident, he recalled that he had forgotten to advance the propeller pitch control, leaving him with, "not enough power to land." The pilot stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 150 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 90 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Superior IO-360-BIA2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7FL4 Green Cove FL
- Destination: 7FL4
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,600 ft by 72 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from KJAX, 36 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.