VANS RV-4

Full Narrative

On July 16, 2026, at 0701 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur built Vans RV-4, N98GB, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Yuba City, California. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
A review of recorded video from the Sutter County Airport, Yuba City, California, and a neighboring business, captured the airplane at various portions of the accident flight. One video showed the airplane departing runway 17 and then initiating a turn back to the airport. The airplane overshot runway 35 and traveled out of the frame of the camera. As the airplane traveled into view of a neighboring business’s video, it appeared the airplane was on the ground traveling in a northerly direction before it rotated along its vertical axis to the left about 270° and came to rest upright in an open field.
The airplane’s first identified point of contact (FIPC) was the airport’s northern perimeter chain link fence. The debris field was about 230 ft in length, oriented on a 348° heading and consisted of portions of wooden propeller blades and the rudder. The airplane came to rest upright on a 056° heading and remained mostly intact. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit to all the flight control surfaces.
The airplane was recovered to a secure location for further examination.