Amateur-built RV-4 accident near Kootenai, Idaho, October 5, 1983
On October 5, 1983 at about 11:50 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-4, registered N488RV, was destroyed in an accident near Kootenai, Idaho. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- October 5, 1983 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Kootenai, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-4
- Registration
- N488RV · registry record · serial 88
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PLT HE WAS CRUISING AT 11500 MSL WHEN SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE LOWER FORWARD SECTION OF THE COCKPIT AND A FIRE DEVELOPED AROUND HIS FEET. THE ENGINE WAS SHUT DOWN AND THE FIRE SUBSIDED OR WENT OUT. DURING THE GLIDE FOR LANDING THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AND THE FIRE RETURED. THE PLT EXECUTED A CONTROLLED, FORCED LANDING WITH THE FIRE IN PROGRESS.
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: 104 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 42 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, July 26, 1983; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 11WA Spokane WA at 11:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from GEG, 17 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.