Rogue Valley Intnl-Medford Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Medford, Oregon 97504
Tuesady, April 15, 2003 13:05 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot of the homebuilt Herb Six Northstar was cleared for takeoff on runway 32 at the Medford airport. He made a wings level rolling left turn from an intermediate taxiway and accelerated to takeoff while raising the tail. During this maneuver the right main landing gear collapsed and the aircraft ground looped to a stop. Post-crash examination revealed the right main landing gear shock strut cross tube had buckled in compression in two locations and although the aircraft was in a left turn onto the runway the right main landing gear/wheel was found folded underneath the center of the fuselage.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The compressive buckling and collapse of the right main landing gear.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/15/2003
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1305
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Medford
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97504
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 422242N
Event Location Longitude 1225201W
Event Location Airport Rogue Valley Intnl-Medford
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MFR
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1335
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1253 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID MFR
Elevation of weather observation facility 1335
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 8500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.99
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14672
NTSB Notification Source SEA FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date Apr 15 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1356
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 30 2003 8:55AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Hillsboro FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N606HS
NTSB Number SEA03LA063
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Herb Six
Aircraft Model Northstar
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 118
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Feb 15 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 11
Airframe Hours 11
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Six, Herbert H.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Medford
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97504
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MFR
Departure City Medford
Departure State OR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1305
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code OR96
Destination City Medford
Destination State OR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - roll/run
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Nov 13 2003 2:42PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 32
Runway Length 8798
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --