Amateur-built RV-6 accident near Bradford, Pennsylvania, June 12, 1999
On June 12, 1999 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-6, registered N173AB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bradford, Pennsylvania (None airport). 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 pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing, and subsequent collapse of the nose gear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 1999 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bradford, Pennsylvania · None · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-6
- Registration
- N173AB · no longer on the register · serial BM-01
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-certificated pilot of the airplane was landing on a private grass strip. During the landing, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported 75 hours of total flight experience, of which seven hours were in the make and model of the accident airplane. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions of the airframe or engine. Winds reported at an airport about seven miles north of the accident site were from 130 degrees at seven knots.
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
- Flight time: 75 hours in all; 7 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None (expired)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 24, 1997
- Maximum gross weight: 869 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1850 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BFD PA at 4:00 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 1,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from BFD, 7 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.