Amateur-built RV-4 accident near Twisp, Washington, July 17, 1994
On July 17, 1994 at about 6:20 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-4, registered N144US, was substantially damaged in an accident near Twisp, Washington (Twisp Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PROPER DESCENT RATE WAS NOT MAINTAINED DURING APPROACH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 1994 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Twisp, Washington · Twisp Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-4
- Registration
- N144US · no longer on the register · serial 742
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE AMATEUR-BUILT EXPERIMENTAL BLACK RV-4 SAID THAT 'THE BOTTOM DROPPED OUT' WHEN HE WAS ON APPROACH FOR LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR AFTER A HARD LANDING, WITH ITS THROTTLE AND MIXTURE CONTROL JAMMED. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING THE HARD LANDING, TO ANOTHER AIRPORT AND SUCCESSFULLY LAND.
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: 1,020 hours in all; 525 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 934 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 732 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 27, 1993; 12 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: S52 Winthrop WA at 6:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 2,700 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 6:20 pm
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.