Amateur-built RV-3 accident near Twin Falls, Idaho, July 28, 1983
On July 28, 1983 at about 6:10 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-3, registered N17RV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Twin Falls, Idaho. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 28, 1983 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Twin Falls, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-3
- Registration
- N17RV · registry record · serial 173
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HOME BUILT PLANE WAS ONE OF A FLT OF FOUR ACFT THAT WERE BEING FLOWN ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLT. WHILE EN ROUTE FROM HILLSBORO, OR TO TWIN FALLS, ID, THE PILOTS HAD TO DIVERT AROUND WEATHER. AS THEY WERE APPROACHING TWIN FALLS, N17RV LOST POWER FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE ARPT, SO HE LANDED IN A WHEAT FIELD WHERE THE ACFT NOSED OVER. REPORTEDLY, A STRIP OF WHEAT, 20 FT WIDE BY 150 FT LONG, WAS DAMAGED. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE HAD NEVER KNOWN THE ACFT TO USE MORE THAN 7.5 GAL/HR, BUT ON THIS FLT IT HAD BURNED 8.2 GAL/HR. HE NOTED THAT AFTER A RECENT TOP OVERHAUL, THE ACFT HAD ADDITIONAL POWER & AIRSPEED. THE ACFT HAD ACCUMULATED 9 HRS SINCE THE OVERHAUL.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 602 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 388 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,030 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 4, 1983; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: H10 Hillsboro OR at 3:16 pm
- Destination: TWF Twin Falls ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 035° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:14 pm from TWF, 5 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.