Amateur-built RV6 accident near Aurora, Oregon, March 27, 2008
On March 27, 2008 at about 7:30 pm local time, a amateur-built RV6, registered N65MK, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Aurora, Oregon. It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A propeller malfunction for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 2008 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Aurora, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV6
- Registration
- N65MK · no longer on the register · serial 25253
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed on a test flight for a propeller installation. The pilot said that during the flight, a malfunction occurred and "the propeller was free-wheeling." The pilot force-landed the airplane in soft, muddy terrain and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot did not provide any information regarding the circumstances of the propeller failure following the accident and the reason for the malfunction was not determined.
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
What happened, in order
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Wet/muddy › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Textron Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UAO Aurora OR at 7:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.38 inHg
- Observation at 8:29 pm from UAO, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.