# Accident 20220114000639A: Walter Tachiki TACHIKI 750 CRUZER, Spanish Fork, UT, January 14, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 14, 2022, 12:45 local time
- Place: Spanish Fork, UT
- Airport: Spanish Fork-Springville
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.1309° N, 111.6523° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1309&lon=-111.6523&mi=10
- Aircraft: N145WT, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N145WT) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Walter Tachiki TACHIKI 750 CRUZER (registry code 05637KK, https://openairdocs.org/model/walter-tachiki-tachiki-750-cruzer) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Honda VTECH (registry code 33795, https://openairdocs.org/engine/honda-vtech) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WALTER TACHIKI TACHIKI 750 CRUZER
- Reported engine: HONDA VTECH
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 138 total, 3 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR22LA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA080) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220114000639A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) STARTED N145WT WITH INTENT TO TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 30 AT THE SPANISH FORK-SPRINGVILLE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (U77).  DURING TAKEOFF, THE PIC SET ENGINE THROTTLE AND NOTICED IT WAS ROTATING AT ~3800 RPMS BUT BELIEVED IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AROUND ~4300 RPMS.  MOMENTS AFTER LIFT OFF, THE PIC REALIZED THERE WAS A MECHANICAL ISSUE AND ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE RUNWAY.  THE PIC ADVANCED TO MAX THROTTLE BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER.  WHILE BANKING WEST TO COME INTO APPROACH, THE AIRCRAFT LOST LIFT AND IMPACTED THE TOP OF LARGE BUILDING WHERE IT CAME TO A STOP ON THE ROOF.  THIS WAS CONSISTENT WITH A INDUCED STALL.  STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION HAS BEEN LIMITED DUE TO THE PIC BEING IN THE HOSPITAL.  DURING THE JOINT FAA/NTSB INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE PIC HAD A PROP STRIKE IN 2020.  REPAIRS INCLUDED REPLACING THE PROP, ENGINE COWLINGS, AND SOME MAINTENANCE NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE EXISTING DAMAGE.  A PHYSICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE ACCIDENT SHOWED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD BEEN IMPACTED AND THERE WERE CERAMIC PIECES BLOCKING THE EXHAUST.  IT ALSO UNCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE GEAR BOX HAD SOME INTERNAL WARPING AND THAT THE BEARINGS HAD SIGNIFICANT RESISTANCE.

## 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 WPR22LA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA080), Jan 14, 2022: Walter Tachiki Tachiki 750 Cruzer (N145WT), Spanish Fork, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power due to an obstructed catalytic converter, which most likely resulted from the pilot’s failure to properly repair or replace it after it was likely damaged during a…

## Other reports on N145WT (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20200417002729I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200417002729I), Apr 17, 2020: Walter Tachiki TACHIKI 750 CRUZER (N145WT), Spanish Fork, UT, Minor damage. On the 3rd test flight they (aircraft and pilot) were landing at Spanish Fork, a cross wind caught the aircraft in the flare, lost control and got both wing…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.