20040922023249A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Amtr CHALLENGER II · Lancaster, SC · September 22, 2004

Date: September 22, 2004 · 15:30 local
Place: Lancaster, SC
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N2079S
NTSB investigation: NTSBATL04CA191
Reported as: Amtr Challengerii
Reported engine: ROTAX ROTAX503
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 950 total13 in this make and model1 in the last 90 days

N2079SRegistered now · Pinkham Lewis CHALLENGER IIS/N CH2-2017 Airframe modelPinkham Lewis CHALLENGER II Engine modelBombardier ROTAX (ALL)Reciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On September 22, 2004 Mr. Pinkham was operating N2079S, an experimental amateur built aircraft, on a part 91 flight from N48 to T73. While enroute he experienced a partial engine power loss. While attempting an emergency landing in a field, the aircraft contacted the trees and then contacted the ground in a nose down attitude. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and Mr. Pinkham, the sole occupant, received serious injuries.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2004 MR. PINKHAM WAS OPERATING N2079S, AN EXPERIMENTAL AMATEUR BUILT AIRCRAFT, ON A PART 91 FLIGHT FROM N48 TO T73. WHILE ENROUTE HE EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL ENGINE POWER LOSS. WHILE ATTEMPTING AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD, THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE TREES AND THEN CONTACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, AND MR. PINKHAM, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ATL04CA191Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportLancaster, SCA partial loss of engine power in-flight due to water ingestion and his misjudgment of obstacle clearance resulting in a collision with trees and the ground. A factor in the accident was the pilot's failure to follow the manufactures instructions for…Sep 22, 2004 · Substantial damage