# NTSB ATL00LA062: Daniel J. Zoerb Kitfox, N715DZ, Spruce Pine, NC, June 9, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 9, 2000, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Spruce Pine, NC - Coordinates: 35.909912, -82.059516 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9099&lon=-82.0595&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49393 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL00LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49393/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL00LA062 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing conditions. A factor was the mountainous, unsuitable terrain on which to make a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (cause) - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot was planning to fly to another airport located 13.5 nm to the south of the departure airport for the purpose of having an annual maintenance inspection performed on the airplane. While 3 miles south of the departure airport in cruise flight at 1,000 ft. agl, the airplane's engine gradually lost power. The airplane collided with trees in a heavily wooded area, descended approximately 80 feet to the ground, then nosed over. The last annual inspection on the airframe and the engine was performed on January 1, 1997, and the airplane had flown five hours since the last inspection was performed. An on-scene examination of the airframe and engine by an FAA inspector revealed no mechanical discrepancies, and evidence of fuel was found at the accident site. Weather conditions at the time were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice. ## Factual narrative On June 9, 2000, about 1030 eastern daylight time, a Daniel J. Zoerb Kitfox experimental homebuilt airplane, N715DZ, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain following a loss of engine power during cruise flight near Spruce Pine, Georgia. The private pilot, the sole occupant aboard, received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Avery County/Morrison Airport in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, at 1015, with a planned destination of Shiflet Airport in Marion, Georgia. According to the pilot, he was planning to fly to Marion, Georgia, located 13.5 nm south of Spruce Pine, Georgia, for the purpose of having an annual maintenance inspection performed on the airplane. The pilot stated that the taxi and run-up took approximately five minutes, and he then departed on runway 16. Shortly after departure, the pilot leveled off at a cruising altitude of 1,000 feet above ground level. Approximately 15 minutes after departure while three miles south of the departure airport, the airplane's engine began to lose power. According to the pilot, the engine "took about 45 seconds to gradually quit." The airplane collided with trees in a heavily wooded area, descended approximately 80 feet to the ground, then nosed over. The pilot stated that five days prior to the accident, he added five gallons of automotive fuel to three existing gallons in the fuel tanks, and departed with approximately 8 gallons of fuel in the fuel tanks. The total fuel capacity is 12 gallons, and the airplane burns approximately 3.9 gallons per hour. A review of the airplane's maintenance records revealed that the last annual inspection on the airframe and the engine was performed on January 1, 1997. At the time of the accident, the airplane had flown 5 hours since the last inspection was performed. An on-scene examination of the airframe and engine by an FAA inspector revealed no mechanical discrepancies. According to the inspector, evidence of fuel was found at the accident site. At 1020, weather conditions at Morgantown, North Carolina, located 20 miles east of the accident site, were reported as clear skies, a temperature of 22 degrees C. (72 degrees F.) and a dew point of 17 degrees C. (63 degrees C.). According to an icing probability chart, weather conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N715DZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N715DZ-2000-11-14), registration cancelled 2000-11-14, S/N 351 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Daniel J. Zoerb KITFOX - Registry model: [Zoerb Daniel J KITFOX](https://openairdocs.org/model/zoerb-daniel-j-kitfox) (registry code 05616YC) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 351 - Airframe hours: 175 - Engines: Rotax 582 BOMBADIER 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jimmy W. Franklin - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 1997, 5 hours before - Departed: 7A8, NC - Destination: 9A9, MARION, NC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 308 total, 10 in this make and model, 258 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MRN, 20 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000609011299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000609011299A), Jun 9, 2000: Amtr KITFOX, Spruce Pine, NC, No damage. (-23) N715DZ departed avery county airport (7A8) for shiflet field (9A9) marion, NC. After 15 minutes and approx. 3 miles from 7A8 the non certified Rotax… 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. --- 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.