Amateur-built RV-6 accident near Roseburg, Oregon, August 12, 1998
On August 12, 1998 at about 11:21 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-6, registered N26CH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Roseburg, Oregon (Roseburg Regional 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
A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 1998 · about 11:21 pm local time
- Place
- Roseburg, Oregon · Roseburg Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-6
- Registration
- N26CH · registry record · serial 20515
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that engine start, taxi, pretakeoff run-up, and takeoff were uneventful. During a left climbing turn at 450 feet above ground level, a total loss of engine power occurred. He checked the magnetos and auxiliary fuel pump on, then performed a forced landing onto grass adjacent to the airport runway. During the forced landing the airplane touched down hard. The best available data indicated the pilot had adequate fuel for the flight, that carburetor ice was not a hazard at the time, and that the airplane had been inspected and maintained appropriately. The experimental-category airplane was powered by a Ken Hatfield Enterprises O-340-A1AKH, a carbureted reciprocating engine rated at 170 horsepower. No mechanical basis for the power loss was determined or reported.
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: 1,978 hours in all; 548 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,907 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 726 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 7, 1998; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ken Hatfield O-340-A1AKH (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Roseburg OR at 11:21 pm
- Destination: MFR Medford OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from RBG
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.