Amateur-built VANS ACFT RV-9 accident near Yellow Pine, Idaho, September 21, 2024
On September 21, 2024 at about 2:30 pm local time, a 2020 amateur-built VANS ACFT RV-9, registered N448MT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Yellow Pine, Idaho (Big Creek Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in an impact with a fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 2024 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Yellow Pine, Idaho · Big Creek Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VANS ACFT RV-9, built 2020
- Registration
- N448MT · registry record · serial 92248
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a tail wheel equipped airplane reported that he was landing on a grass field. At 10 feet above the runway, he reduced power. The airplane landed hard on the runway and bounced. The pilot added power and the airplane veered left. The pilot applied the brakes, but the airplane continued off the left side of the runway. The airplane then impacted a fence, which resulted insubstantial damage to the left wing, right horizontal and the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical 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 (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, foreign licence
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: sport pilot; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 33,000 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 30,000 as pilot in command; 25,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 11, 2024
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 65 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, December 3, 2023; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming YO-320 SERIES (piston); 65 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KHRV Hamilton MT at 1:00 pm
- Destination: U60 Big Creek ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,550 ft by 110 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 am from KMYL, 47 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KMYL 211351Z AUTO 04007KT 10SM CLR 06/M01 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP195 T00611006
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – View of left wing and tail damage
Photograph 2 – View of right horizontal stabilizer damageThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on March 13, 2025. 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 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | 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.