# NTSB CEN24LA158: Jacobson SE5A Replica, N124BM, Luther, OK, April 15, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 14, 2024, 19:00 local (Apr 15, 2024, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Luther, OK - Coordinates: 35.5635, -97.114 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5635&lon=-97.1140&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Oklahoma City Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 194091 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA158 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194091/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194091 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA158 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to use carburetor heat, which resulted in fuel starvation during the initial climb, a loss of engine power, and impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine fuel and control: fuel control/carburetor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Jacobson SE5A REPLICA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md?model=0566310), [All aircraft, 195 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Jacobson SE5A REPLICA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=0566310), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Jacobson SE5A REPLICA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=0566310), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Jacobson SE5A REPLICA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=0566310), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Jacobson SE5A REPLICA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0566310), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings on a private grass airstrip when he experienced a loss of engine power during initial climb. The airplane then descended and impacted terrain near the departure end of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wings. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal airplane operation. Serious carburetor icing conditions at glide power were present at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he did not use carburetor heat during the flight. Carburetor icing most likely formed during the preceding descent for landing and remained for the accident takeoff. ## Factual narrative On April 14, 2024, at 1900 central daylight time, a Jacobson SE5A airplane, N124BM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Luther, Oklahoma. The private pilot was uninjured. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings on a private grass airstrip when he experienced a loss of engine power during initial climb. The airplane then descended and impacted terrain near the departure end of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wings. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal airplane operation. After the examination, the pilot stated that the loss of engine power was probably due to carburetor ice. He stated that he did not apply carburetor heat during the flight. According to the carburetor probability icing chart, conditions for serious carburetor icing at glide power were present. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N124BM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N124BM), registered now, S/N 071013, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: JACOBSON SE5A REPLICA - Registry model: [Jacobson SE5A REPLICA](https://openairdocs.org/model/jacobson-se5a-replica) (registry code 0566310) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 071013 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 189.3 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C1 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Pops Space LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 6, 2024 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: Private, runway 18, 2,600 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review July 18, 2023; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 697 total, 0.8 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.78 inHg - Observed at: KTIK, 16 nm away - METAR: KTIK 150055Z AUTO 20011KT 10SM CLR 27/17 A2978 RMK AO2 SLP080 T02690174 $ ## 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 20240414003579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240414003579A), Apr 14, 2024: Jacobson SE5A REPLICA, Luther, OK, Substantial damage. On April 14, 2024, at approximately 1915 local time experimental SE5A replica, aircraft was practicing touch and go's at Private strip and on departure acft… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 20, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194091. 6.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17970183&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20master_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� FAA (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17973480&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20-%20FAA-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 980 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17971283&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Template-Rel.pdf - Carburetor icing probability chart (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 119 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18310576&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20Chart-Rel.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. --- 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.