Amateur-built RV-4 accident near Zelienople, Pennsylvania, August 2, 1985
On August 2, 1985 at about 6:30 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-4, registered N85JP, was destroyed in an accident near Zelienople, Pennsylvania (Zelienople Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were 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
- August 2, 1985 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Zelienople, Pennsylvania · Zelienople Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-4
- Registration
- N85JP · no longer on the register · serial 105
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A WITNESS REPORTED THAT WHEN THE ACFT WAS DEPARTING, THE TAKEOFF RUN & BEGINNING OF THE CLIMB APPEARED TO BE NORMAL. HOWEVER, AT ABOUT 300 TO 400 FT AGL, THE LEFT WING DROPPED & THE ACFT PIVOTED TO THE LEFT, THEN THE PLANE CRASHED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN DESCENT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.
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: 1,500 hours in all; 125 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 125 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 31, 1985; 97 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: BTP Butler PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,560 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.