Amateur-built RV8 accident near Metaline Falls, Washington, July 1, 2023
On July 1, 2023 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 2015 amateur-built RV8, registered N68TP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Metaline Falls, Washington (Sullivan Lake State airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing due to impact with a concrete ring embedded in the grass runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 2023 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Metaline Falls, Washington · Sullivan Lake State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV8, built 2015
- Registration
- N68TP · registry record · serial 83300
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during the landing rollout, after the tail came down, he felt and heard a “bang” as the airplane rolled over a concrete ring, embedded in the turf runway. The airplane continued down the runway and the right main landing gear tire dug into the ground, followed by the collapse of the right main landing gear. The fuselage sustained substantial damage. After exiting the airplane, the pilot noticed that the tailwheel steering link was broken. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Miscellaneous/other during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › (general) › Effect on equipment
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,133 hours in all; 1,215 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 3,994 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 12, 2022
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,190.9 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 1, 2023; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Superior XP IO-360-B1H (piston); 1,205 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: R49 Republic WA at 6:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 1,765 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 12:35 pm from K63S, 30 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR K63S 011935Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 28/08 A2996 RMK A01
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 WPR23LA273.