- Date
- October 6, 1994, 16:09 local (21:09 UTC)
- Place
- Laporte, IN
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N1730HJohnson A-4
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 16, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19941006033739A
- Case key
- 9773
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 pilot's inadvertant stall of the airplane while conducting a forced landing. A factor was the engine failure which occurred for an undetermined reason.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that while climbing through about 200 feet, he noticed that he could not maintain his climb rate. He noticed a loss of engine power. He made a 'near stall, 90 degree right turn' and conducted a forced landing in a small field. A witness to the accident reported that the airplane began losing altitude and appeared to be flying close to a stall. He said the plane 'apparently hit nose and right wing first.' Federal aviation administration inspectors, who examined the wreckage, reported no evidence of preimpact malfunction. Inspection of the fuel system, magneto, engine, and carburetor revealed no anomalies.
Factual narrative
On October 6, 1994, at 1609 central daylight time, an experimental Johnson A-4, N1730H, was destroyed following a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from a private airstrip in LaPorte, Indiana. The private pilot sustained serious injury. The planned destination for the personal, 14 CFR Part 91 flight was Michigan City, Indiana. No flight plan was filed.
In his written statement, the pilot reported that while climbing through about 200 feet, he noticed that he could not maintain his climb rate. He noticed a loss of engine power. He made a "near stall, 90 degree right turn" and conducted a forced landing in a small field.
According to an aircraft accident report completed by the LaPorte County Police Department, the pilot said he "attempted to make an emergency landing in the field but did not have enough airspeed to maneuver properly."
The brother of the pilot, a witness to the accident, reported that the airplane reached a maximum height of about 150 feet. It began losing altitude and appeared to be flying close to a stall. He said the plane "apparently hit nose and right wing first."
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspectors, who examined the wreckage, reported no evidence of preimpact malfunction. The fuel tank and strainer contained fuel. Both blades of the wood propellor were fractured from the hub. The magneto was operationally checked and functioned normally. Inspection of the fuel system, engine, and carburetor revealed no anomalies.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1730H
- Reported as
- Johnson A-4
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 1000
- Engine
- Volkswagen H, 55 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Gregory J. Nowak
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Destination
- MGC · Michigan City, IN
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
- 35
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SBN, 20 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.