Amateur-built VAN'S RV-6A accident near Renton, Washington, April 2, 1995
On April 2, 1995 at about 10:45 pm local time, a amateur-built VAN'S RV-6A, registered N35EM, was destroyed in an accident near Renton, Washington (Renton Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO RECOVER FROM THE BOUNCED LANDING, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE DESCENT RATE TOWARD THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 1995 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Renton, Washington · Renton Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VAN'S RV-6A VAN'S RV-6
- Registration
- N35EM · no longer on the register · serial 001
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
GROUND WITNESSES, SOME OF WHOM WERE PILOTS, OBSERVED THE HOME BUILT AIRPLANE PITCHING UP AND DOWN DURING THE STRAIGHT-IN APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY. NO UNUSUAL ENGINE NOISES WERE REPORTED BY THE WITNESSES, AND NO DISTRESS CALLS WERE MADE BY THE PRIVATE PILOT TO THE CONTROL TOWER. THE AIRPLANE WAS THEN OBSERVED TO PITCH UP AND 'SLAM HARD' ONTO THE RUNWAY AFTER A DECREASE IN ENGINE POWER. THE AIRPLANE THEN BOUNCED INTO THE AIR AND BEGAN TO DRIFT OFF THE RUNWAY. AFTER THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE RUNWAY A SECOND TIME, THE ENGINE WAS HEARD TO 'REV UP.' THE AIRPLANE THEN PITCHED UP, BANKED TO THE LEFT, DESCENDED LEFT WING FIRST INTO THE GROUND, AND CARTWHEELED OFF THE WEST EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE REPORTED BY THE PILOT OR FOUND BY INVESTIGATORS. THE WIND WAS BLOWING STRAIGHT DOWN THE RUNWAY (FROM 330 DEGREES) AT 11 KNOTS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE COULD NOT REMEMBER THE LANDING.
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: 459 hours in all; 144 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 148 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 28, 1995; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TIW Tacoma WA at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 5,379 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from RNT
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.