Amateur-built VANS RV-6 accident near Jacksonville, Oregon, September 23, 1995
On September 23, 1995 at about 6:20 pm local time, a amateur-built VANS RV-6, registered N726WM, was destroyed in an accident near Jacksonville, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot-in-command's failure to maintain altitude and/or clearance from surrounding terrain after a low pass. The mountainous terrain was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 1995 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Jacksonville, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VANS RV-6
- Registration
- N726WM · no longer on the register · serial 20246
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot-in-command and his pilot-rated passenger departed on a pleasure flight to attend a barbecue at a private airstrip. Witnesses at the airstrip observed the airplane approach the runway from the south in a landing configuration with no problems noted. The airplane was then observed to fly over the entire length of the airstrip and beyond about 6 feet above the runway. The airplane then banked to the left and headed towards rapidly rising, mountainous terrain. The airplane then impacted trees. No abnormal engine noises were reported, and no preimpact mechanical malfunctions were found. The carburetor heat was found partially out, and the flaps were partially extended. Takeoffs to the north are prohibited at the airstrip due to terrain and obstructions. The density altitude was computed to be about 3,747 feet.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,185 hours in all; 109 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 1,155 as pilot in command; 251 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 278 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 5, 1995; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MFR Medford OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from MFR, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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 N726WM 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.