Amateur-built Vans RV-9A accident near Deshler, Ohio, October 19, 2003
On October 19, 2003 at about 2:45 pm local time, a amateur-built Vans RV-9A, registered N786HL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Deshler, Ohio (Deshler Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper bounced landing recovery. Factor were the pilot's excessive airspeed at touchdown, and his improper use of the wing flaps, by lowering them at touchdown.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 19, 2003 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Deshler, Ohio · Deshler Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Vans RV-9A
- Registration
- N786HL · no longer on the register · serial 90466
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he touched down on the turf runway and the airplane bounced. It then bounced two more times, and the propeller struck the ground, after which, the airplane nosed over. When interviewed, the pilot reported that he forgot to lower the wing flaps, and lowered them when he touched down. In addition, he reported that his approach speed was too high.
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, recreational
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,618 hours in all; 86 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 19, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 85 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 15, 2003; 0.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru E 3253 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0G6 Bryan OH at 1:50 pm
- Destination: 6D7 Deshler OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05, 1,725 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from FDY, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.