Amateur-built RV-6A accident near Arlington, Washington, July 7, 1999
On July 7, 1999 at about 9:55 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-6A, registered N5987D, was destroyed in an accident near Arlington, Washington (Arlington Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's excessive climb rate, which lead to his failure to maintain an airspeed above stalling speed (Vs). Factors include the pilot's lack of total experience in the aircraft make and model.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 1999 · about 9:55 pm local time
- Place
- Arlington, Washington · Arlington Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-6A
- Registration
- N5987D · no longer on the register · serial 24635
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the experimental aircraft desired to depart to the north from an airport that was about to be closed by the FAA for an airshow. He taxied to the wrong end of the runway, and then, because he was the only pilot remaining that wished to depart prior to the closure, he was allowed to back-taxi to the north on the active runway. Upon reaching the intersection he had been cleared to, the pilot made a 180 degree turn on the runway and started his takeoff roll to the south (runway 16). After a very short takeoff roll, the aircraft climbed at what was described by witnesses as an extremely steep angle, and then started a turn to the left. The aircraft's speed slowed significantly as it reached an altitude of about 100 feet above the ground, and then it stalled and the nose dropped toward the terrain. The pilot was unable to pull out of the ensuing dive, and the aircraft impacted a parallel taxiway on a track of 020 degrees. During the investigation, it was determined that the pilot, who earned his private license less than a year prior to the accident, had owned the aircraft for less than two weeks.
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: 176 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 138 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 19, 1999; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: AWO at 9:55 pm
- Destination: Unknown
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 5,336 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from AWO
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.