# NTSB CHI03LA262: Satterlee Volksplane VP-1, N493, Concordia, KS, August 15, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 15, 2003, 07:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Concordia, KS - Coordinates: 39.549167, -97.652221 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5492&lon=-97.6522&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Wichita-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57706 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA262 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57706/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA262 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing factors were the roadway, the ditch and unsuitable terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, climb - to cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - roadway/highway (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane was destroyed when it impacted a road and a ditch during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot stated that the power loss occurred when he reduced throttle upon reaching his cruising altitude. He stated that he elected to land on a roadway and, due to traffic, turned to land on the other side of the road. The airplane subsequently impacted the road and a ditch. No pre-impact defects were found with respect to the airplane. The student pilot was not authorized to fly the accident airplane. ## Factual narrative On August 15, 2003, about 0730 central daylight time, an amateur-built Satterlee Volksplane VP-1, N493, was destroyed when it impacted a road and a ditch shortly after takeoff from runway 17 (3,600 feet by 60 feet, asphalt), at the Blosser Municipal Airport, Concordia, Kansas. The student pilot was seriously injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. In a written statement, the pilot said that upon reaching 3,000 feet mean sea level after takeoff, he reduced throttle to a cruise setting. He stated that the normal cruise engine speed is about 2,400 to 2,500 revolutions per minute (RPM), and that the engine speed dropped to about 1,700 RPM. He stated that the engine speed continued to drop and throttle movement had no effect. The pilot stated that he elected to land on Highway 81. He said that, due to traffic on the highway, he elected to land the airplane on the northbound side of the highway. He stated that he crossed the southbound lanes at about 15 feet above ground level and the airplane impacted on part of the northbound lanes which broke off on of the landing gear. The airplane subsequently impacted a ditch adjacent to the road. A Kansas Highway Patrol Accident Report stated, "Pilot stated that he took off southbound and banked to the right (west) and caught a down draft causing him to drop. Pilot knew he was going to crash so he banked hard right, bounced off the highway and crashed into the northbound ditch...." A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no pre-impact defects. The magneto was bench tested and was found to produce spark. The fuel filter was examined and was not restricted. The temperature and dewpoint were 21 degrees Celsius and 17 degrees Celsius respectively. A carburetor icing probability chart places this combination of temperature and dewpoint in the range for moderate icing during cruise power and serious icing during descent power. The pilot held a student pilot certificate. He had an endorsement authorizing solo flight in a Cessna 150. The pilot had no endorsement authorizing solo flight in the accident airplane. The pilot had no endorsement for flight in conventional gear (taildragger) airplanes. The accident airplane was a conventional gear airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N493](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N493-2007-05-19), registration cancelled 2007-05-19, S/N KS2, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Satterlee Volksplane VP-1 - Registry model: [Satterlee VOLKSPLANE VP-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/satterlee-volksplane-vp-1) (registry code 0562379) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Volkswagen CONVERSION](https://openairdocs.org/engine/volkswagen-conversion) (registry code 63501, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: N493 - Airframe hours: 654 - Engines: Volkswagen 1500CC 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 16, 2003 - Departed: CNK, CONCORDIA, KS - Airport: CNK, Blosser Muni, runway 17, 3,600 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 74 total, 3 in this make and model, 20 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 7 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg - Observed at: CNK, 1 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 20030815019939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030815019939A), Aug 15, 2003: Amtr VOLKSPLNEVP1, Concordia, KS, Destroyed. (-23) Mr. David allen kadel was the pilot and only occupant of a volksplane, N493 that departed concorida, KS, Blosser Municipal Airport from runway 17. Mr.… 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.