Amateur-built RV-7A accident near Covington, Washington, July 17, 2026
On July 17, 2026 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 2004 amateur-built RV-7A, registered N987CW, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Covington, Washington (Crest Airfield). 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper pitch control during landing, which resulted in a bounced landing, nose landing gear collapse, and nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 2026 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Covington, Washington · Crest Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-7A, built 2004
- Registration
- N987CW · registry record · serial 71185
- 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 during landing, the airplane began to porpoise. The nose landing gear subsequently collapsed, and the airplane veered off side of the runway and nosed over. The airplane came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact 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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 32,000 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: August 3, 2024
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 748 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 15, 2026; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 748 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 51WA Black Diamond WA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: S36 Covington WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16/3, 3,288 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 am from KSEA, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSEA 171753Z 20007KT 10SM FEW024 SCT030 SCT045 17/09 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP183 T01720089 10189 20144 51004 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Figure 1: View of airplane’s final resting position next to runway.
Figure 2: View of airplane’s propeller contact marks leading down the runway.The 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
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 3, 2026. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigation Photographs | 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.