Tuesday, June 28, 2022

Van's RV-9A, N12VV: Accident occurred June 27, 2022 at Missoula Montana Airport (KMSO), Missoula County, Montana

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. 

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Helena, Montana


Location: Missoula, Montana
Accident Number: WPR22LA231
Date and Time: June 27, 2022, 10:02 Local
Registration: N12VV
Aircraft: JAMES C GEYMAN RV-9A
Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On June 27, 2022, about 1002 mountain daylight time, an experimental amateur built Van’s RV-9A airplane, N12VV, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Missoula, Montana. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to the accident pilot (and builder of the accident airplane), he was performing flight tests on his airplane to break-in the engine. While approaching Missoula Montana Airport to land he experienced a total loss of engine power.

Preliminary air traffic control audio revealed that the pilot contacted air traffic control about 5 minutes prior to the accident to request permission to enter the airspace and perform a full stop landing. The controller instructed the pilot to enter the left downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern for runway 30. Approximately 4 minutes later the accident pilot informed the controller that his engine was “surging” and “probably about to quit” and the controller cleared the pilot to land on runway 08. An airport surveillance video showed the airplane descending from a low altitude as it approached the airport from the northwest. While passing near the approach end of runway 08, the airplane made a steep left turn from an estimated altitude of about 30 ft above ground level and descended rapidly towards the ground and impacted terrain. The airport manager stated that the wreckage came to rest between runway 12/30 and taxiway alpha between midfield and the approach end of runway 30. The wreckage was located about 0.5 nm east of the approach end of runway 08. 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: JAMES C GEYMAN 
Registration: N12VV
Model/Series: RV-9A
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC 
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KMSO,3195 ft msl 
Observation Time: 09:53 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles 
Temperature/Dew Point: 19°C /7°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,
Lowest Ceiling: None 
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.23 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point: Missoula, MT 
Destination: Missoula, MT

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Serious 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 46.916306,-114.09055

Aircraft crashed on approach to the runway.  

Date: 27-JUN-22
Time: 16:02:00Z
Regis#: N12VV
Aircraft Make: VANS
Aircraft Model: RV9
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: SERIOUS
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: SUBSTANTIAL
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: APPROACH (APR)
Operation: 91
City: MISSOULA
State: MONTANA

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