Amateur-built RV-4 accident near Elk River, Idaho, July 15, 1995
On July 15, 1995 at about 2:45 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-4, registered N90EE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elk River, Idaho (Elk River airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE TALL VEGETATION WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 1995 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Elk River, Idaho · Elk River · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-4
- Registration
- N90EE · no longer on the register · serial 2152
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND INTO THE TALL GRASS ALONGSIDE THE AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT TRIED TO CORRECT WITH RIGHT RUDDER CONTROL AND POWER; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED OFF THE AIRSTRIP, THROUGH THE TALL GRASS AND COLLIDED WITH A FENCE. THE AIRGUIDE INDICATES THAT THE RUNWAY IS 150 FEET WIDE; HOWEVER, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE GRASS HAD BEEN MOWED TO ONLY A 21 FOOT WIDTH. THE REMAINING AREA AROUND THE AIRSTRIP WAS TALL GRASS.
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: 342 hours in all; 192 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 267 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 219 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 22, 1994; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ALW Walla Walla WA at 1:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,600 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°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.
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.