# Accident 20070421824199A: Smithc WHEELER2000, Stuart, FL, April 21, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 21, 2007, 19:18 local time
- Place: Stuart, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.1808° N, 80.2211° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.1808&lon=-80.2211&mi=10
- Aircraft: N37CA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N37CA-2017-05-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Smith Carter A WHEELER EXP 2000 FT (registry code 05619UO, https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-carter-a-wheeler-exp-2000-ft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SMITHC WHEELER2000
- Reported engine: LYC IO540A1A5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 28,500 total, 57 in this make and model, 205 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA07LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA07LA085) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070421824199A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON APRIL 21, 2007, ABOUT 1918 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A SMITH WHEELER EXP 2000, AMATEUR BUILT AIRPLANE, HAD A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND WAS DITCHED IN THE ST. LUCIE RIVER AT STUART, FLORIDA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE FLIGHT FROM LAKELAND, FLORIDA, TO STUART. THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES AND THE AIRPLANE RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM LAKELAND, THE SAME DAY, ABOUT 1815. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS ON A LEFT BASE LEG FOR RUNWAY 7 AT STUART. HIS ALTITUDE WAS BETWEEN 700 AND 800 FEET. SUDDENLY THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. BECAUSE OF HIS LOW ALTITUDE HE DID NOT HAVE TIME TO TROUBLESHOOT THE REASON FOR THE POWER LOSS. HE NOTICED ALL ROADS HAD VEHICLE TRAFFIC AND HE ELECTED TO DITCH THE AIRPLANE IN THE ST. LUCIE RIVER. HE ESTABLISHED THE BEST GLIDE SPEED FOR THE AIRPLANE AND AIMED FOR A SPOT CLOSE TO SHORE. WHILE AT AN ALTITUDE OF 20 FEET, AS HE SLOWED FOR THE DITCHING, THE AIRPLANE INADVERTENTLY STALLED. THE LEFT WING AND NOSE DROPPED DOWN AND THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE WATER NOSE LOW, LEFT WING DOWN. THE LEFT WING AND THE TAIL SECTION SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE UPON IMPACT. HE EXITED THE AIRPLANE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA07LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA07LA085), Apr 21, 2007: Smith Carter A Wheeler Exp 2000 (N37CA), Stuart, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: Contamination of the fuel system which resulted in a loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was unsuitable terrain for a forced landing.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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