# Accident 20130717014679A: Johnson Garret W MERLIN GT, Collierville, TN, July 17, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 17, 2013, 16:35 local time
- Place: Collierville, TN
- Airport: Colonial Airpark
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.0500° N, 89.6709° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0500&lon=-89.6709&mi=10
- Aircraft: N618V, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N618V-2018-02-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Johnson Garret W MERLIN GT (registry code 05602RA, https://openairdocs.org/model/johnson-garret-w-merlin-gt) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (registry code 09050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: JOHNSON GARRET W MERLIN GT
- Reported engine: BOMBARDIER ROTAX (ALL)
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 4,950 total, 40 in this make and model, 120 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA13LA323](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA323) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130717014679A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 17TH 2013,  AT APPROXIMATELY 1600, THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) OF N618V MODEL MERLIN SN 95052 AND HIS PASSENGER WAS TAKING OFF FROM COLONIAL AIRPARK OUT OF DESOTO COUNTY, MS.  A MINUTE INTO THE FLIGHT THE PIC HEARD A LOUD SOUND, THEN FOLLOWED BY THE SILENCE OF THE ENGINE.  THE PIC LOWERED THE NOSE TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED, AND LOOKED FOR OPTIONS TO LAND.  WITH THE RATE OF SINK, THE PIC CHOSE AN OPEN FIELD ON A PRIVATE PROPERTY TO FORCE LAND THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT'S RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUCK THE TOP OF A BRIDGE, THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED AND STRUCK A TREE WHICH TURNED THE AIRCRAFT 60 DEGREES. A FIRE STARTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON THE GROUND.  BOTH, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ EGRESSED THE AIRCRAFT.  BOTH PILOT AND PASSENGER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES.

## 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 ERA13LA323](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA323), Jul 17, 2013: Johnson Garret W Merlin GT (N618V), Collierville, TN, destroyed. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examination due to postcrash fire damage.

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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