Amateur-built RV10 accident near Reno, Nevada, October 28, 2022
On October 28, 2022 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 2018 amateur-built RV10, registered N673PH, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Reno, Nevada (Reno/Tahoe International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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 flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 28, 2022 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Reno, Nevada · Reno/Tahoe International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV10, built 2018
- Registration
- N673PH · registry record · serial 41830
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, he was on final approach and remained higher than normal and intended to land long to provide more separation from the wake turbulence from another airplane that had just landed. During the landing, the pilot “flared the airplane a little high, and the airplane fell from a few feet above the runway.” The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident failures or malfunctions with the 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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 462 hours in all; 245 in this make and model; 292 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 12, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 558 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 1, 2021; 220 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming YIO-540-D4A5 (piston); 488 hours total
- Operator: N673Ph LLC
The flight
- Departed from: C92 Paradise CA at 4:36 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 16R, 11,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 030° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from KRNO
Weather report (METAR): METAR KRNO 290155Z 03004KT 10SM BKN100 BKN180 15/M09 A3022 RMK AO2 SLP224 T01501089=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on March 2, 2023. 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 | 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.