Amateur-built RV8 accident near Sequim, Washington, January 8, 2010
On January 8, 2010 at about 10:24 pm local time, a amateur-built RV8, registered N747CL, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Sequim, Washington (Sequim Valley Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering in the traffic pattern, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 8, 2010 · about 10:24 pm local time
- Place
- Sequim, Washington · Sequim Valley Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV8
- Registration
- N747CL · no longer on the register · serial 82431
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The purpose of the flight was to complete a flight review for the owner of the airplane. According to witnesses near the accident site, the airplane had joined the right downwind leg of the traffic pattern for the runway when it subsequently began a steep 60- to 90-degree bank to the right. After completing about one full circle, the airplane banked back to the left, pitched nose-down, and impacted terrain. The wreckage came to rest in a plowed field 1/4 mile north of the airport. Weather observations in the area during the time of the accident indicated wind from the northwest at 4 knots, visibility 10 miles and an overcast ceiling at 700 feet. Examination of the wreckage revealed extensive impact damage throughout the airframe. The forward section of the fuselage, cockpit area and associated instrumentation, were crushed aft to the main wing spar; the wreckage signatures and damage were consistent with a stall and/or spin. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of a system malfunction or failure prior to the impact.
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 in flight during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Low ceiling › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 16,641 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,550 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 142 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 8, 2009
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming XP-IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W28 Sequim WA at 10:24 pm
- Destination: W28 Sequim WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27L, 3,150 ft by 40 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 700 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from KCLM, 13 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N747CL 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.