Amateur-built RV 6 accident near Grand Ridge, Florida, August 27, 1993
On August 27, 1993 at about 6:47 pm local time, a amateur-built RV 6, registered N220KM, was destroyed in an accident near Grand Ridge, Florida. 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
UNDETERMINED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 1993 · about 6:47 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Ridge, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV 6
- Registration
- N220KM · registry record · serial 20787
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Pilot reported to ATC that he was descending from 13,500 feet to 11,500 feet. When passing 11,500 feet the pilot reported he was descending to 9,500 feet. No further communication was made with the pilot. Radar data showed the aircraft descended normally until passing 10,000 feet. At that point the aircraft descended rapidly and was lost from radar at 5,200 feet. Eyewitnesses observed the aircraft in normal flight at about 10,000 feet. The aircraft's wing rocked back and forth and the aircraft then nosed over and descended vertically with the engine operating at high rpm until ground impact. Postcrash examination of the aircraft revealed all components necessary for flight were located on or around the main wreckage. No evidence to indicate precrash failure or malfunction of the aircraft structure, flight controls, or engine was found. No evidence of in-flight bird contact was found. The aircraft kit manufacturer reported that he has not seen any stability or control problems that would cause uncontrolled vertical descent. The pilot was reported to be in good health and good spirits before the flight.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,600 hours in all; 180 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 387 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1992; 122 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MOB Mobile AL at 5:37 pm
- Destination: PMP Pompano Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from TLH, 42 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.