- Date
- May 15, 1999, 16:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place
- Smith, AL
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N216JEBoyd Dan MONO-WHEEL; Euro
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 21, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990515038489A
- Case key
- 46328
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
According to witnesses, shortly after takeoff a loud 'bang' was heard and the airplane nosed down into the ground. According to the pilot, the engine lost partial power and while climbing to clear power lines, the aircraft stalled and nosed down into a tree and subsequently the ground. A FAA Inspector on-scene stated that examination of the wreckage found that the engine had impacted the tree directly at the propeller, cracking the crankcase, and substantially damaging both wings and the cockpit. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were favorable for the formation of induction system icing.
Factual narrative
On May 15, 1999, at 1645 central daylight time, a Boyd Dan, Mono-Wheel Euro, homebuilt airplane, N216JE, collided with the ground shortly after takeoff from the Jones Lite Aviation Airport, in Smith, Alabama. The airplane was operated by the private pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The pilot received serious injuries, the passenger received minor injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage.
According to witnesses, shortly after takeoff a loud "bang" was heard and the airplane nosed down into the ground. According to the pilot, the engine lost partial power and while climbing to clear power lines the aircraft stalled, and nosed down into a tree and subsequently the ground. A FAA Inspector on-scene stated that examination of the wreckage found that the engine had impacted the tree directly, cracking the crankcase, and substantially damaging both wings and the cockpit. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were known to be favorable for the formation of induction system icing.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N216JE
- Reported as
- Boyd Dan MONO-WHEEL; Euro (MONO-WHEEL)
- Category
- Unknown, amateur-built
- Serial number
- A41
- Airframe hours
- 90
- Engine
- Subaru EA81, 80 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Daniel H. Boyd
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · May 14, 1999 · 0 hours before
- Departed
- PVT
- Airport
- PVT · Jones Lite Aviation
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 41
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 300 total · 90 in this make and model · 260 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 0° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MCN, 74 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.