Amateur-built RV-4 accident near Marshall, Washington, July 6, 1983
On July 6, 1983 at about 3:20 am local time, a amateur-built RV-4, registered N444RV, was destroyed in an accident near Marshall, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- July 6, 1983 · about 3:20 am local time
- Place
- Marshall, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-4
- Registration
- N444RV · no longer on the register · serial 227
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLT WAS TO TEST A NEWLY INSTALLED AIRSPEED INDICATOR. A PASSENGER WHO WENT ON THE FLT SURVIVED THE ACCIDENT AND SAIDTHE PILOT HAD DONE AN AILERON ROLL FROM 4000 FT MSL (ABOUT 1700 FT AGL) AND HAD BUFFETED AND LOST ALT DURING RECOVERY. AFTER A HIGH SPEED PASS OVER THE ARPT THE PILOT CLIMBED TO ABOUT 3000 FT MSL DID A 180 DEGREE TURN. HE DID ANOTHER AILERON ROLL AND WHEN THE ACFT CAME OUT OF IT A BUFFET OCCURRED AND THE ACFT HIT THE GROUND BEFORE RECOVERY WAS COMPLETED. IT COULD NOT BE ESTABLISHED THAT THE PILOT HAD ANY AEROBATIC TRAINING.
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: 34 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 34 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, May 26, 1983; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.