Amateur-built RV 6 accident near Clovis, New Mexico, June 17, 2020
On June 17, 2020 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 2007 amateur-built RV 6, registered N1407W, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Clovis, New Mexico (Clovis Muni 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
The pilot's improper landing flare which resulted in a hard, bounced landing, and subsequent runway excursion. Contributing to the accident was the airplane’s aft center of gravity at the time of the accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 2020 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Clovis, New Mexico · Clovis Muni · 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 2007
- Registration
- N1407W · registry record · serial 60382
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the landing, the airplane floated down the runway in an unusually nose high attitude. The pilot responded by abruptly lowering the nose of the airplane, and the airplane landed hard and bounced. He then increased and decreased the engine power setting and the airplane touched down hard again. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane exited the runway to the left before it came to rest upright in a grass field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts and truss. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He also reported that following the accident, he calculated the weight of the baggage and determined that the airplane's center of gravity was at the aft limit.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › CG/weight distribution › Related operating info
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Weight/balance calculations › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 27,000 hours in all; 420 in this make and model; 8.3 in the last 90 days; 8.3 in the last 30 days; 22,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 9, 2019
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 416 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 24, 2020; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 1,001 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BAZ New Braunfels TX at 3:00 pm
- Destination: CVN Clovis NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 7,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from KCVN
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.