Amateur-built RV-6 accident near St. Maries, Idaho, July 4, 2016
On July 4, 2016 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 1998 amateur-built RV-6, registered N916BN, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near St. Maries, Idaho (St. Maries Municipal 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
A partial loss of engine power due to carburetor icing, which resulted from the pilot’s failure to apply carburetor heat.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 2016 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- St. Maries, Idaho · St. Maries Municipal Airport · 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, built 1998
- Registration
- N916BN · registry record · serial 21085
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that, on short final to the runway, the engine lost partial power. The pilot then switched fuel tanks, activated the boost pump, and pumped the throttle, but engine power was not restored. The pilot subsequently landed in a field about 300 to 500 ft short of the runway, and the airplane nosed over. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated that he believed that the loss of power was due to carburetor ice because he might not have applied carburetor heat during the flight. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to moderate carburetor icing at cruise power settings and serious carburetor icing at descent power settings. It is likely that the loss of engine power resulted from carburetor icing due to the pilot's failure to apply carburetor heat.
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
- Fuel related during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Ice/rain protection system › Intake anti › ice, deice › Not used/operated
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,420 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,390 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 17, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 972.4 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, July 3, 2016; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 4,720 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 11WA Cheney WA at 4:10 pm
- Destination: S72 St. Maries ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,354 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 11 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from COE, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on August 21, 2017. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Weather Data | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation - Robert Vietzke (Pilot) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Record of Report from FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.