Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane after striking an unseen sinkhole during landing.
NTSB analysis
During the landing roll at a private airstrip, the airplane struck a sinkhole and bounced 10 to 15 feet in the air. The pilot added power to cushion the next touchdown, but the airplane drifted to the left and entered tall grass on the side of the runway; the landing gear separated and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the composite bulkhead. The airplane slid approximately 150 feet before coming to a stop on its belly. The pilot said that he did not see the sinkhole. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN12CA027 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Oct 14, 2011
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Breaux Bridge, Louisiana
- Nearest airport
- Dupuis (LA41)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Amateur-built RV-8
- N-number
- N610EC
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.