Amateur-built RV6 accident near Cape Girardeau, Missouri, October 9, 2018
On October 9, 2018 at about 3:50 pm local time, a 2011 amateur-built RV6, registered N451JP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Cape Girardeau, Missouri (Cape Girardeau Rgnl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper landing flare in gusting crosswind conditions, his failure to conduct a go-around, and his failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a runway departure and nose-over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 9, 2018 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Cape Girardeau, Missouri · Cape Girardeau Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV6 A, built 2011
- Registration
- N451JP · no longer on the register · serial 23435
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and passenger were landing in gusting crosswind conditions following a local flight. The passenger stated that the airplane touched down on the right side of the runway, bounced several times, departed the right side of the runway, and subsequently nosed over; a witness on the ground also watched the airplane bounce, depart the runway surface, and nose over in the grass. Weather observations indicated a left crosswind component between 9 and 15 knots about the time of the accident. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, and the accident is consistent with the pilot's failure to attain a proper landing flare in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in the bounced landing, during which he failed to conduct a go-around. Subsequently, he did not maintain directional control, which resulted in the runway departure and nose-over.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Ability to respond/compensate
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 230 hours in all
- Last flight review: June 23, 2018
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 988 hours in all
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 183.4 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 10, 2017
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CGI Cape Girardeau MO at 3:02 pm
- Destination: CGI Cape Girardeau MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 3,997 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,100 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KCGI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
14 documents, released by the NTSB on December 2, 2020. 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 | Meteorology | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Airport Diagram | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Passenger Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Record of Converation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Record of Email | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Accident Flight Data (Landing) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Airframe and Engine Examination Report | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 8 | FAA Airplane Flying Handbook Excerpts | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 9 | RV-6A POH Excerpts | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 11 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 12 | Accident Sequence Pictures | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 13 | Accident Pictures | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 14 | Accident Video (Provided by FAA) | WMV file | 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.