Amateur-built RV4 accident near Danville, Virginia, April 24, 1993
On April 24, 1993 at about 4:00 pm local time, a amateur-built RV4, registered N22DD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Danville, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A STUCK CARBURETOR NEEDLE VALVE; SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN, AND IMPACT WITH A TREE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 1993 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Danville, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV4
- Registration
- N22DD · registry record · serial 1650
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER COMPLETING A 360 DEGREE TURN AND RETURNING TO LEVEL FLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN IN A FIELD AND STRUCK A TREE. EXAMINATION OF THE CARBURETOR REVEALED THAT THE NEEDLE VALVE WAS INTERMITTENTLY STICKING ON THE SEAT. FURTHER EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE SPRING WIRE CLIP ON THE NEEDLE VALVE WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO OPEN UP THE VALVE WHEN IT GOT STUCK.
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: 249 hours in all; 137 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 168 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DAN at 3:45 pm
- Destination: DAN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.