# Accident 20150302002809A: Adams Donald E DA1, Sebring, FL, March 2, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 2, 2015, 11:49 local time
- Place: Sebring, FL
- Airport: Sebring Regl
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.4367° N, 81.3411° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4367&lon=-81.3411&mi=10
- Aircraft: N797A, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N797A-2018-04-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Adams Donald E DA1 (registry code 05904SP, https://openairdocs.org/model/adams-donald-e-da1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ADAMS DONALD E DA1
- Reported engine: AMA/EXPR VOLKSWAGON
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,950 total, 50 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA15FA139](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15FA139) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150302002809A

## Narrative

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

1 - AIRMAN HAD NOT FLOWN ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT IN 2 YEARS.  THE 2 PILOTS HE SHARED HANGAR WITH STATED THE LAST TIME HE FLEW THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT, ITS ENGINE QUIT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND HE WAS ABLE TO LAND SAFELY BACK ON THE RWY.

2 - AIRMAN/BUILDER HAD RECENTLY COMPLETED CONVERTING THE AIRCRAFT LANDING GEAR FROM CONVENTIONAL TO TRICYCLE CONFIGURATION.

3 - WITNESSES STATED THEY HEARD THE AIRPLANE ENGINE SPUTTER DURING CROSSWIND TURN.

4 - THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING CAUSING THE NOSE WHEEL LANDING GEAR TO DAMAGE THE HEADER FUEL TANK RESULTING IN A POST CRASH FIRE.

## 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 ERA15FA139](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15FA139), Mar 2, 2015: Adams Donald L DA1 (N797A), Sebring, FL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.

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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