# NTSB CEN10CA160: Ultralight America Spitfire II Modelctv, N6524R, Cameron, TX, March 13, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 13, 2010, 14:21 local (19:21 UTC)
- Place: Cameron, TX
- Coordinates: 30.879167, -96.970832 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8792&lon=-96.9708&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 1, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 75509
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA160
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75509/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75509
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA160

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control while maneuvering during a forced landing after a partial loss of engine power.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Ultralight America SPITFIRE II MODELCTV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=059017I), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md)
- [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Ultralight America SPITFIRE II MODELCTV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=059017I), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md)
- [Fuel system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified; cases with it: [Ultralight America SPITFIRE II MODELCTV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md?model=059017I), [All aircraft, 181 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ultralight America SPITFIRE II MODELCTV, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=059017I), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Ultralight America SPITFIRE II MODELCTV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=059017I), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Ultralight America SPITFIRE II MODELCTV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=059017I), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Ultralight America SPITFIRE II MODELCTV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=059017I), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Ultralight America SPITFIRE II MODELCTV, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=059017I), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Ultralight America SPITFIRE II MODELCTV, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=059017I), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The non-certificated pilot was conducting visual patterns in the experimental aircraft. While in the pattern, the airplane's engine began to sputter and lost partial power. The pilot examined the clear fuel lines and saw air bubbles. The pilot attempted to prime the engine to clear the air bubbles, but was not successful. The pilot then steered the aircraft toward the runway in an attempt to land quickly, but could not maintain level flight, so the pilot began a descending turn for the runway. Once the pilot realized that he would not make the landing surface due to strong winds, he elected to perform a forced landing to an open field. While maneuvering to land, a gust of wind increased the angle of bank and the pilot lost control of the airplane. The airplane impacted terrain nose-low, with approximately 45 degrees of bank. Substantial damage was sustained to the outboard portion of the left wing. The airplane was flown by the pilot and the previous owner prior to the accident without any problems. An examination of the fuel system and fuel lines did not reveal the source of air in the fuel lines.

## Factual narrative

The non-certificated pilot was conducting visual patterns the airport. While in the pattern, the airplane's engine began to sputter and lost partial power. The pilot examined the clear fuel lines and saw air bubbles in the fuel lines. The pilot attempted to prime the engine to clear the air bubbles, but was not successful. The pilot steered the airplane towards the runway in an attempt to land quickly. The airplane could not maintain level flight, so the pilot began a descending turn for the runway. Once the pilot realized that due to strong winds he would not make the landing surface, he elected to perform a forced landing to an open field. While maneuvering to land a gust of wind increased the angle of bank and the pilot lost control of the airplane. The airplane impacted terrain nose low with approximately 45 degrees of bank. Substantial damage was sustained to the outboard portion of the left wing. The airplane was flown by the pilot and the previous owner prior to the accident without any problems. An examination of the fuel system and fuel lines did not reveal the source of air in the fuel lines.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6524R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6524R-2014-11-25), registration cancelled 2014-11-25, S/N 00180100JT, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ULTRALIGHT AMERICA SPITFIRE II MODELCTV
- Registry model: [Ultralight America SPITFIRE II MODELCTV](https://openairdocs.org/model/ultralight-america-spitfire-ii-modelctv) (registry code 059017I) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 00180100JT
- Engines: ROTAX 582 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Price Stanley D
- Registered owner: Price Stanley D
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Departed: T35, Cameron, TX
- Destination: T35, Cameron, TX
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: T35, Cameron Municipal Airpark

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; seat: front; flight hours: 700 total, 1 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 7 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observed at: KLHB, 18 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 20100313029379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100313029379A), Mar 13, 2010: Ultralight SPITFIRE II, Cameron, TX, Substantial damage. Operator just purchased this aircraft and was making a few touch & go'son leveling out the engine began to sputter and loose power operator continued level…

## Other investigations on N6524R (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 CEN11LA421](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA421), Jun 22, 2011: Ultralight America Spitfire II (N6524R), Ranger, TX, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient airspeed during the initial climb after a takeoff in high density altitude conditions, which resulted in an inadvertent stall.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75509. 1.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1: Not obtained (item 1, .PDF, 18 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328469&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%3A%20Not%20obtained-Master.PDF
- Correspondence: ROC with pilot (item 2, .PDF, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328470&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%3A%20ROC%20with%20pilot-Master.PDF
- Photo: Damage overview (item 3, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328471&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20Damage%20overview-Master.PDF

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.

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