Amateur-built RV-8 and amateur-built RV-8 accident near Hillsboro, Oregon, July 9, 2021
On July 9, 2021 at about 1:25 am local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built RV-8 (N526KP) and amateur-built RV-8 (N808LD), were involved in the same accident near Hillsboro, Oregon (Portland-Hillsboro airport). 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 second pilot’s diverted attention while taxing which, resulted in his failure to maintain clearance from another airplane holding short of the runway.
The second pilot’s diverted attention while taxing which, resulted in his failure to maintain clearance from another airplane holding short of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 2021 · about 1:25 am local time
- Place
- Hillsboro, Oregon · Portland-Hillsboro · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built RV-8, built 2007
- Registration
- N526KP · registry record · serial 81648
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built RV-8, built 2011
- Registration
- N808LD · registry record · serial 82693
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built RV-8 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The group of 6 airplanes were practicing formation flight for an airshow the following day. The airplanes were to takeoff in three groups of 2-airplane elements. The pilot in the lead airplane in the first group reported that, during taxi to the runway, he had come to a stop at the hold short line. The pilot who was in the second airplane, which was taxing behind the lead airplane, became distracted with the radios before looking up and seeing that the lead airplane had stopped. The pilot applied excessive braking; however, the tailwheel lifted off the ground. To prevent the propeller from ground impact, he released the brakes and the airplane collided with the lead airplane’s empennage. The lead airplane’s rudder and elevator were substantially damaged. The second airplane received minor damage. Neither pilot reported that there were any mechanical failures or malfunctions with either airplane that would 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 NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built RV-8 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The group of 6 airplanes were practicing formation flight for an airshow the following day. The airplanes were to takeoff in three groups of 2-airplane elements. The pilot in the lead airplane in the first group reported that, during taxi to the runway, he had come to a stop at the hold short line. The pilot who was in the second airplane, which was taxing behind the lead airplane, became distracted with the radios before looking up and seeing that the lead airplane had stopped. The pilot applied excessive braking; however, the tailwheel lifted off the ground. To prevent the propeller from ground impact, he released the brakes and the airplane collided with the lead airplane’s empennage. The lead airplane’s rudder and elevator were substantially damaged. The second airplane received minor damage. Neither pilot reported that there were any mechanical failures or malfunctions with either airplane that would 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 for the amateur-built RV-8 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,695 hours in all; 2,264 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 3,650 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 25, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,233 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 26, 2020; 0.5 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-M1B (piston); 2,233 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 13R/, 6,600 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
Weather report (METAR): KHIO 080753Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 14/11 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP165 T01390111 402390133
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the amateur-built RV-8 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,200 hours in all; 404 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 1, 2021
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Aerosport IO375 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 22, 2021. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos (Courtesy of Airplane Owners) | PDF, 3 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.