What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On may 8,2008, at approximately 1030 CST, N39BA, a GA-680, lost power from the right engine during an approach to landing at Hope, Arkansas (M18). The pilot stated that after the loss of power he was unable to make the runway and the airplane veered to the right. Witness reported hearing the aircraft and stated "the plane sounded bad." The pilot confirmed, in a telephone interview, that he did not feather the engine and that he did not hold a multiengine rating. He excused the lack of a multiengine rating by adding, "my instructor forgot to sign me off and then left for europe." The private pilot, and his passenger (his son) were not injured. The 14 CFR part 91 flight was operating under VFR. No flight plan was filed and the pilot obtained only ATIS weather information. The aircraft received substantial damage. Inspection of the aircraft by airworthiness inspectors of the lit FSDO determined the aircraft was not in an airworthy condition. Additionally, severe fuel contamination was discovered as contributory.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON MAY 8,2008, AT APPROXIMATELY 1030 CST, N39BA, A GA-680, LOST POWER FROM THE RIGHT ENGINE DURING AN APPROACH TO LANDING AT HOPE, ARKANSAS (M18). THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER THE LOSS OF POWER HE WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE RUNWAY AND THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. WITNESS REPORTED HEARING THE AIRCRAFT AND STATED "THE PLANE SOUNDED BAD." THE PILOT CONFIRMED, IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW, THAT HE DID NOT FEATHER THE ENGINE AND THAT HE DID NOT HOLD A MULTIENGINE RATING. HE EXCUSED THE LACK OF A MULTIENGINE RATING BY ADDING, "MY INSTRUCTOR FORGOT TO SIGN ME OFF AND THEN LEFT FOR EUROPE." THE PRIVATE PILOT, AND HIS PASSENGER (HIS SON) WERE NOT INJURED. THE 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT WAS OPERATING UNDER VFR. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED AND THE PILOT OBTAINED ONLY ATIS WEATHER INFORMATION. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTORS OF THE LIT FSDO DETERMINED THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT IN AN AIRWORTHY CONDITION. ADDITIONALLY, SEVERE FUEL CONTAMINATION WAS DISCOVERED AS CONTRIBUTORY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.