Amateur-built RV4 accident near Clovis, New Mexico, September 19, 2020
On September 19, 2020 at about 3:30 pm local time, a 1998 amateur-built RV4, registered N250LB, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Clovis, New Mexico (Aero Tech Inc. Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control during initial climb due to distraction, which resulted in an in-flight upset and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 19, 2020 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Clovis, New Mexico · Aero Tech Inc. Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV4, built 1998
- Registration
- N250LB · no longer on the register · serial 77-3889
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was departing from an airport when the accident occurred. During the initial climb, he became momentarily distracted when his mobile phone rang. He looked down at the phone, which was on the floor, and within 2 seconds, the airplane had rolled inverted. At this time, the pilot looked outside the cockpit and became aware of the inflight upset. He immediately recovered the airplane into an upright attitude, but the airplane impacted the ground, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies or malfunctions that could 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
- Attempted remediation/recovery during initial climb
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 22,000 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 21,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 6, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,095.8 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 27, 2020; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming Engines IO-540-EXP (piston); 691 hours total
- Operator: Bishop Ag Air LLC
The flight
- Departed from: NM42 Clovis NM at 3:30 pm
- Destination: HBZ Heber Springs AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,640 ft by 148 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from KCVN, 3 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KCVN 191556Z AUTO 21011KT 10SM CLR 19/09 A3031 RMK AO2 SLP235 T01940089
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on July 8, 2022. 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 | Record of Conversation, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation, Witness | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 2 pages | 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.