Dickson Vans Aircraft RV-8 accident near El Monte, California, January 21, 2009
On January 21, 2009 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Dickson Vans Aircraft RV-8, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N396JD, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near El Monte, California (El Monte 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's failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 21, 2009 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- El Monte, California · El Monte Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Dickson Vans Aircraft RV-8, amateur-built
- Registration
- N396JD · registry record · serial 81923
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The approach to the destination airport was uneventful and the wind condition was calm. The amateur-built airplane touched down and a small bounce ensued. As the tail began to lower, the pilot applied brakes in an attempt to slow the airplane. The tail began to swing to the right (pointing the airplane's nose to the left) and the pilot tried to correct the offset by adding right rudder. The airplane began to skid sideways, breaking off the right main landing gear, and the airplane came to rest off of the left side of the runway. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had added more right rudder to maintain runway centerline. He additionally stated that more training and tailwheel experience would have helped prevent the accident.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 140 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 4, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,200 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 5,600 as pilot in command; 400 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 15, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 178 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 28, 2008; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SMO Santa Monica CA
- Destination: KEMT El Monte CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,995 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.