Amateur-built RV-8 accident near Scio, Oregon, August 21, 2022
On August 21, 2022 at about 9:03 pm local time, a 2004 amateur-built RV-8, registered N184DJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (aerobatics) near Scio, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s decision to perform a low-altitude aerobatic maneuver and his improper execution of the maneuver, which resulted in impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 2022 · about 9:03 pm local time
- Place
- Scio, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-8, built 2004
- Registration
- N184DJ · registry record · serial 80396
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Relatives of the pilot said the pilot would often conduct low-altitude flights and perform aerobatic maneuvers over their home. They stated that on the day of the accident, the pilot overflew their home and made a total of three passes. During the third pass, the relatives estimated the airplane was about 100 ft above the ground flying from north to south when it entered a barrel roll and descended out of sight behind trees, where it impacted the ground. The family members stated that they thought the pilot started the maneuver lower than normal and that the maneuver was not flown smoothly. They described hearing the engine running steady and did not hear anything abnormal before the accident. Flight data from an onboard flight instrument and a separate witness video corroborated the relatives’ statements. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Toxicology testing revealed that the pilot had used cannabis; its inactive metabolite THC-COOH was detected in his heart blood and lung tissue. No active THC was found in his blood or lung tissue. While the pilot’s pattern of cannabis use is unknown, given the lack of psychoactive THC or 11-OH-THC in his blood, it is unlikely that the pilot was under the influence of THC. Toxicology testing also detected diphenhydramine in the pilot’s liver tissue. While diphenhydramine carries a warning about the potential for mental and physical impairment in performing hazardous activities, there was no drug found in his blood. Thus, effects from the pilot’s use of diphenhydramine were not a factor in this accident. The accident is consistent with the pilot electing to conduct an ostentatious flight display at low altitude and his subsequent failure to perform a rolling aerobatic maneuver correctly, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (aerobatics) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ama/Expr UNKNOWN ENG (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S12 Albany OR at 8:53 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from KSLE, 16 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSLE 212056Z VRB05KT 10SM CLR 29/14 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP151 T02940139 57015
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on April 25, 2024. 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 | Cockpit Display - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Cockpit Display - Attachment 1 (Csv Data for Accident Flight) | data file | Download |
| 3 | Medical Factual | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Witness Statements | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Wreckage Examination Notes | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Evidence Control Forms | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Witness Video File | MOV file | Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR22FA312.