Van's Air Force
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RV-3A N696DB - Inflight Breakup - June 15, 2026
- Thread starter Dad's RV-10
- Start date
Very very sad, my condolences and heart goes out to his friends and loved ones.
I don't want to minimize this tragedy in any way, but it caught my eye that this is a RV3A...how many tricycle gear RV3's are out there? I guess I incorrectly assumed the answer was probably zero.
The RV-3A is NOT a tri-gear!
Thanks for the clarification guys
Hey folks - this is bad enough for the family that we don’t do speculation before the wreckage has cooled! Doug’s rules say that if a post even hints of speculating on a cause, it’s toast. At this stage, none of us knows anything except that the aircraft and pilot were lost.
J29racer
Member
Wow this is scary! Not sure how to handle this. I have been flying mine and have about 60 hrs on it and treating it in a very very gentle way. But I do wish there were people that know these RV 3’s that can do some inspections on them as most of the builders have moved on in one way or another. For the help of the other owners I hope we can get so honest history of this RV 3A.
Note: Speculation replies will be deleted. Rules vio.
NTSB final will be posted
RIP to all involved.
NTSB final will be posted
RIP to all involved.
RBD
Well Known Member
Ugh, so young. It will be interesting to learn more about the failure in due time. Condolences to his family and friends, including the one flying with him.
dailyridge.com
Aviation Community Mourns Loss Of Young But Experienced Lakeland Pilot Killed In Experimental Aircraft Accident — Lakeland | Daily Ridge
A 23-year-old Lakeland pilot who died in an experimental aircraft crash Monday evening in north Polk County has been identified as Michael “Cole” Robinson, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. The crash occurred shortly before 8 p.m. in a remote, wooded area west of Moore Road near...
dailyridge.com
There are plenty of resources to help you understand the construction of your RV3, its operating limits as well as inspection protocols. I suggest you start another thread to discuss that outside of this one.
Take comfort in knowing this is a rare incident. We will be waiting for answers.
RIP fellow aviator and condolences to family and friends.
Agreed. I think for the small few of us -3 drivers we need to have some sort of discussion about the way forward once the facts come to light. Incredibly tragic.
The way forward in the meantime is to "review and confirm" you're RV-3 has incorporated all of Van's wing spar, main and rear modifications.
We won't know till the final report and will take some time.
300 hrs on a purchased RV-3A
120 hrs on a completed RV-3B
mg
J29racer
Member
I personally have taken a great deal of care looking into my condition inspections and prior to purchasing. I think your idea to open a new forum separate from this tragedy. I hope that some of you highly respected builders can help with this so we new people can move forward.
J29racer
Member
That’s a great question but how do you accomplish that? Does Van’s have records of if kits were purchased as a 3A vs a 3? Or if a 3 was purchased as a 3 but then the 3A spar kit was ordered to add on. I called and asked Van’s and was not able to find this out however this was a few years ago when they were in the middle of their issues. I did call and ask Van’s and was told that under the normal use category the wing had no issues.
You can message me if you like, don't what to go on here.
But I will say, I would pursue with Van's a description of all mods to the RV-3 wing spars
this was a must for me with the 3A.
Randy Lervold had a good history on his site, but long gone.
Someone may know where that can be found.
Without the mods, and built correct I believe is was considered in a Utility Category.
mg
That airplane is listed as RV-3. No "A".Don’t be so sure
My first RV build was an RV-3 started in 1988 and flew in 1992. The "RV-3A" was never an official designation by Van's Aircraft. The "A" referred to a design modification in the fuselage where it doubled the rear spar attach bars increasing the strength of the rear spar attachment.
The spars of the RV-3 and "RV-3A" were comprised of laminated bars riveted to the spar web. The current RV-3B (which is an official designation) wing has machined spar bars riveted to the spar web.
There were two RV-3 wing spar mods issued in the late 1990's that required deskinning of the wings to install.
The spars of the RV-3 and "RV-3A" were comprised of laminated bars riveted to the spar web. The current RV-3B (which is an official designation) wing has machined spar bars riveted to the spar web.
There were two RV-3 wing spar mods issued in the late 1990's that required deskinning of the wings to install.
Certainly not a standard -B mod. I remember that this was a tricky intersection to figure out how to handle. I suspect that this was a builder's choice, not a factory design mod or suggestion?
in reference to the picture, I have a -3 with the "A" mod. This is not a result of the mod being added to the wing, when you look at the wing with the mod added, you can't see any evidence of it. The picture does not represent what the fuselage looks like on the -3 with the "A" mod added. Not speculating, just saying that mine does not look like that.
Attachments
The “A” designation also included a modification/reinforcement of the inboard root rib of each wing.
This isn't really the proper thread, and a new one was created this morning:
Seeking advice RV3b annual condition inspection
Tragically, another RV3a has recently gone down. Though my RV3 is the B model having the structural upgrades to address past wing failures, seek advice from those that have built and those that know way more than me, where best to inspect with both mirror and boroscope for potential cracking or...
vansairforce.net
There is good information being talked about it, but please do it over there, as this just ALWAYS leads to speculation on a specific accident, and that’s not what Doug wants. We also don;t want to kill discussion….
Sad day for friends, family and the community. I didn’t know the pilot, but after reading about him he appears to be an example of a smart, capable, young pilot who had a bright future ahead of him and was put in an unexpected and somewhat impossible situation.
RIP
RIP
Cole, the RV-3 pilot, was one of the good ones for sure. He truly had a passion for aviation, always asked the right questions, and was on track to do great things in this world. His impact on his students and everybody else around him will be felt for years to come.
Unfortunately, it was me in my RV-8 who Cole was flying in formation with that evening. It was a golden hour evening flight with perfect weather conditions, not a bump in the sky, and everything was flowing so smoothly. Almost like it was drawn up in a story book. It was a simple formation break, level at 2000’ and 140mph. Nothing more. No hot rodding, no hard G, nothing.. just low G break to the right. At about 60 degrees of bank and about 10 degrees nose up pitch, the right wing separated from the fuselage in the root rib area. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing in the moment. The aircraft continued to roll to the right and fell out of view when I rolled left to de conflict with his aircraft. Never saw it again.
I only write this out for RV-3 owners and operators to know what happened.
>> Moderator Edit: Removed language alluding to a possible causal factor (speculative) in accordance with VAF posting rules.<<
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I’m very sorry for your loss. Thank you for taking the time to write this.
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RBD
Well Known Member
Condolences for your loss, Nick, and sorry that you had to experience that. Sounds like a dreamy flight right up until the accident. Thank you for sharing and confirming this wasn’t a “pulled the wings off” kind of thing. Incredibly tragic all the same, and now we still wait to let the NTSB do their thing. RIP Cole.
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This really hits home. What you said describes most flights I conduct with my friends, sometimes even in this specific area. I cannot imagine the feeling of being on top of the world in one moment and watching your buddy’s aircraft come apart and disappear. Deepest condolences for Cole and everyone involved. Very sorry for your experience and loss.
