# Accident 20220813014539A: Thomas Wayne L THOMAS' FLYER, Searsmont, ME, August 13, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 13, 2022, 14:11 local time
- Place: Searsmont, ME
- Airport: Ridgeview Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.3223° N, 69.2073° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3223&lon=-69.2073&mi=10
- Aircraft: N35WT, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N35WT) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Thomas Wayne L THOMAS' FLYER (registry code 05622KX, https://openairdocs.org/model/thomas-wayne-l-thomas-flyer) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (registry code 42090, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-290-d2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: THOMAS WAYNE L THOMAS' FLYER
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-290-D2
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 3,250 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA22LA372](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA372) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220813014539A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT HAD NOT BEEN FLOWN IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND HAD JUST COME OUT OF A CONDITION INSPECTION.  PILOT HAD NEVER FLOWN THE AIRCRAFT AND THIS WAS HIS FIRST FLIGHT.  PILOT TOOK OFF FROM THE GRASS RUNWAY 15 DOWN HILL WITH THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE FEEDING OFF THE LEFT TANK OF 15 GALLONS.  RIGHT TANK HAD 5 GALLONS TOTAL ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC. AT APPROXIMATELY A FEW HUNDERED FEET IN THE CLIMB, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED QUICKLY TWICE ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, AND THEN TOTALLY QUITING INSTANTLY.  PILOT MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN BACK TO THE RUNWAY.  AIRCRAFT LOST SPEED NEAR THE GROUND CAUSING IT TO LAND FLAT AT A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT STRIKING THE GROUND AND BENDING THE GEAR BACK.  LEFT WING MADE CONTACT AFTER WITH THE GROUND, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO SWING/TURN 180 DEGREES IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, AND COMING TO A STOP.  PILOT HAS NO RECOLLECTION OF ANY OTHER INFORMATION AFTER FLARING AND STRIKING THE GROUND.

## 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 ERA22LA372](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA372), Aug 13, 2022: Thomas Wayne L THOMAS' Flyer (N35WT), Searsmont, ME, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power during the initial climb for reasons that could not be determined.

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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