Amateur-built VANS RV-6A accident near Grass Valley, California, August 14, 2010
On August 14, 2010 at about 10:30 pm local time, a amateur-built VANS RV-6A, registered N677DS, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Grass Valley, California (Nevada County Air Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to attain a proper touchdown point that resulted in an overrun of the runway and nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 2010 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Grass Valley, California · Nevada County Air Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VANS RV-6A
- Registration
- N677DS · registry record · serial 24156
- 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 the airplane touched down approximately 2,500 feet down the runway in calm wind conditions. He applied heavy braking, but the airplane did not stop quickly enough. The pilot attempted to turn off the runway; however, he was not able to make the turn and the airplane went over an embankment and nosed over. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. The pilot stated that the crash resulted from a combination of too much airspeed and not enough runway to stop the airplane. The airport/facility directory for the airport indicates that the runway is 4,350 feet long.
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
- Landing area overshoot during landing defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,400 hours in all; 100 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 21, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GOO Grass Valley CA at 10:00 pm
- Destination: GOO Grass Valley CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 4,350 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR10CA404.