# Accident 20200815015759A: Matt Mcswain JA30 SUPERSTOL, Clover, SC, August 15, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 15, 2020, 15:35 local time
- Place: Clover, SC
- Airport: Private Strip
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.1083° N, 81.1753° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1083&lon=-81.1753&mi=10
- Aircraft: N146BB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N146BB-2022-09-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Matt Mcswain JA30 SUPERSTOL (registry code 05635BN, https://openairdocs.org/model/matt-mcswain-ja30-superstol) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 912S series (registry code 55570, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912s-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MATT MCSWAIN JA30 SUPERSTOL
- Reported engine: ROTAX 912S
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA20LA286](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA286) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200815015759A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A NORMAL TAKEOFF WHEN HE REALIZED THE PLANE WAS NOT GENERATING THE NORMAL AMOUNT OF POWER.  THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR THE TREES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY.  IT WAS LATER DISCOVERED THAT A SPARK PLUG LEAD HAD DETACHED FROM ITS SPARK PLUG.  WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME ALSO CREATED A HIGH PROBABILITY OF CARBURETOR ICE AT LOW RPM SETTINGS.

THE PILOT EXERCISED HIS RIGHT TO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE INVESTIGATION BEYOND PROVIDING AN INITIAL STATEMENT.  WHEN INVESTIGATORS ARRIVED ON SCENE, THE PILOT SAID THAT ALL OF THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS, THE AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE, AND REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE HAD BEEN STOLEN OUT OF THE PLANE AFTER THE ACCIDENT.  HE WOULD NOT IDENTIFY WHO HAD PERFORMED THE LAST CONDITION INSPECTION.  INSPECTORS ALSO OBSERVED THAT THE REGISTRATION NUMBER HAD BEEN CUT OFF THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 ERA20LA286](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA286), Aug 15, 2020: Just JA 30 Superstol (N146BB), Clover, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The separation of a spark plug lead, resulting in a partial loss of engine power and collision with trees.

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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