- Date
- October 1, 2010, 12:09 local (16:09 UTC)
- Place
- Nappanee, IN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N9049SGingerich Alton & Slagel Dean Christavia MK 1
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 16, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA-South Bend FSDO
- FAA report
- 20101001047959A
- Case key
- 77489
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 total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Findings · 2
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
The pilot reported that after takeoff, about 250 feet above ground level (agl), the engine experienced a total loss of power. He reduced the throttle to idle and attempted to land on the runway; however, there was not enough distance remaining. He subsequently pushed the throttle forward and the engine regained power. As the airplane reached approximately 250 feet agl, the engine lost power again. The pilot subsequently set up for a forced landing to a harvested corn field immediately west of the airport. The airplane nosed over during the emergency landing. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed no anomalies consistent with a preimpact failure or malfunction.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that after takeoff, about 250 feet above ground level (agl), the engine "suddenly cut out." He reduced the throttle to idle and attempted to land on the runway; however, there was not enough distance remaining. He subsequently pushed the throttle forward and the engine regained power. As the airplane reached approximately 250 feet agl, the engine lost power again. The pilot subsequently set up for a forced landing to a harvested corn field immediately west of the airport. The airplane nosed over during the emergency landing. A post accident examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a pre-impact failure or malfunction. The pilot noted that his intention was to stay in the airport traffic pattern in order to practice takeoffs and landings because it had been approximately 6 months since he had flown the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9049S
- Reported as
- Gingerich Alton & Slagel Dean Christavia MK 1
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 1001
- Airframe hours
- 73
- Engine
- Continental O-200, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 2, 2009
- Departed
- C03 · Nappanee, IN
- Destination
- C03 · Nappanee, IN
- Airport
- C03 · Nappanee Muni, runway 27, 3,675 × 50 ft, asphalt
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
- 69
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Sport Pilot
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Sport pilot
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 300 total · 29 in this make and model · 297 as pilot in command · 0 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 8 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.11 inHg
- Observed at
- GSH, 8 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 2, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 264 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.