Amateur-built RV-6 accident near Vancouver, Washington, May 23, 1992
On May 23, 1992 at about 7:50 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-6, registered N116DC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vancouver, Washington (Clark CO. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN AN AERODYNAMICS STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 1992 · about 7:50 pm local time
- Place
- Vancouver, Washington · Clark CO. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-6
- Registration
- N116DC · registry record · serial 20298
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT THE END OF A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE ENTERED THE PATTERN FOR RIGHT HAND TRAFFIC. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, JUST PRIOR TO LANDING, THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND DROPPED TO THE RUNWAY FROM APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET. THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED AND BECAME AIRBORNE. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER AND THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED TO APPROXIMATELY 60 TO 80 FEET, IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, WHEN THE LEFT WING DROPPED AND THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED TO THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO LEVEL THE WINGS BEFORE CONTACTING THE RUNWAY. AFTER TOUCH DOWN, THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT OFF THE RUNWAY, TRAVELLED THROUGH A FENCE, DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, AND CAME TO REST INVERTED.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 708 hours in all; 83 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 588 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 1992; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAE Everett WA at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 2,800 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.
Other NTSB records under N116DC the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.