Vans RV8 accident near Chiang Mai, Th, January 24, 2016
On January 24, 2016 at about 10:30 am local time, a Vans RV8, registered HSGMC, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Chiang Mai. No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 24, 2016 · about 10:30 am local time
- Place
- Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Vans RV8
- Registration
- HSGMC · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On January 24, 2016, about 1030 local time, a Van RV-8, HS-GMC, initiated a forced landing near Chiang Mai, Thailand after experiencing a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. The owner/pilot, and one passenger, were not injured; the airplane sustained damage predominately to the wings, landing gear, and lower fuselage area. The airplane was operating under the pertinent regulations of the Government of Thailand. Preliminary information received from the government of Thailand indicated that the airplane tookoff from Nok Temporary Airfield Banthi, Lamphun, Thailand at about 0915 local time for a sightseeing flight. During cruise at 4,000 feet the engine suddenly quit and the pilot initiated a forced landing onto a field. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Thailand. This report is for information purposes only, and contains only information obtained for, or released by, the Government of Thailand. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: The Aircraft Accident Committee of Thailand Ministry of Transport Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue Bangkok 10100, Thailand Tel: 66 2287 3198 Fax: 66 2286 2925 Email: mot_aapig_gr@mot.go.th
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 engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Superior Air Parts XP-360 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.