- Date
- September 3, 2009, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Hitchcock, TX
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N583AFWright Bruce M Avid Flyer
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 15, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20090903016609A
- Case key
- 74686
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
A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
Shortly after takeoff the airplane's engine experienced a complete loss of power. With trees straight ahead, the pilot elected to turn left towards a clearing. Unable to reach the clearing, the airplane impacted trees and, subsequently, the ground. The airplane came to rest in a nose-down position and the pilot was able to exit unassisted. The pilot further reported that prior to takeoff he had performed a preflight inspection and verified sufficient fuel and oil for the flight. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site. The inspector reported that the airplane's left wing and fuselage had sustained structural damage. The reason for the reported loss of engine power was not determined.
Factual narrative
On September 3, 2009, about 1300 central daylight time, a single-engine Wright Bruce Avid Flyer experimental airplane, N583AF, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Hitchcock, Texas. The private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. During a telephone conversation, the pilot stated that shortly after takeoff the engine experienced a complete loss of power. With trees straight ahead the pilot elected to turn left towards a clearing. Unable to reach the clearing, the airplane impacted trees and subsequently the ground. The airplane came to rest in a nose down position and the pilot was able to exit unassisted. The pilot further reported that prior to takeoff he had performed a preflight inspection and verified sufficient fuel and oil for the flight. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded to the accident site. The inspector reported that the airplane's left wing and fuselage had sustained structural damage. The reason for the reported loss of engine power was not determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N583AF
- Reported as
- Wright Bruce M Avid Flyer
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 993195MK4
- Airframe hours
- 1,592
- Engine
- Jabiru 2200, 80 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Moe Ralph P
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · August 3, 2009
- Departed
- 37TE · Hitchcock, TX
- Destination
- 37TE · Hitchcock, TX
- Airport
- 37TE · Johnnie Volk Field, runway 35, 1,800 × 30 ft, grass/turf
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
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,020 total · 978 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 77 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.06 inHg
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 7, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 116 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N583AF · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.