Amateur-built RV-4 accident near Defuniak Sprngs, Florida, April 15, 1988
On April 15, 1988 at about 6:30 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-4, registered N51HH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Defuniak Sprngs, Florida (De Funiak Springs airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- April 15, 1988 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Defuniak Sprngs, Florida · De Funiak Springs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-4
- Registration
- N51HH · registry record · serial H 001 86
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT AN ALT OF APRX 100 FT WHILE ON A PERSONAL FLT, THE ENG QUIT. THE PLT BANKED THE ACFT TO THE LEFT TO LAND ON A RD BUT LOST CONTROL DURING THE MANEUVER. THE ACFT DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED AND COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN. EXAMINATION OF THE MAGNETO SWITCH REVEALED THAT A STEEL SPRING ON THE INSIDE SHORTED THE BOTH POSITION. THE LT OR RT POSITIONS WERE OPERABLE. THE PLT STATED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD.
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: 1,385 hours in all; 107 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 1,233 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 141 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 17, 1988; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B3B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from CEW, 11 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.