Amateur-built RV 6 accident near Sacramento, California, January 12, 2014
On January 12, 2014 at about 10:30 pm local time, a 2002 amateur-built RV 6, registered N6888, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Sacramento, California (Sacramento Mather 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll in gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 12, 2014 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sacramento, California · Sacramento Mather · 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 UNDESIGNAT, built 2002
- Registration
- N6888 · registry record · serial 25767-1
- 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 while practicing landings in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, during landing roll in gusting wind conditions, the airplane started to veer to the left. Despite the pilot's control inputs, he was unable to maintain directional control. Subsequently, the airplane began to bounce several times and the main gear collapsed. As the airplane skidded to a stop, the right wing struck a sign which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) 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
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Sign/marker › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 600 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, July 1, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO360 SER A&C (piston); 600 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EDU Davis CA at 10:00 pm
- Destination: EDU Davis CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04R, 11,301 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 16 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from SAC, 96 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 WPR14CA095.