# NTSB DEN01LA020: Thomas VP-1, N89KD, West Jordan, UT, December 8, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 8, 2000, 12:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: West Jordan, UT - Coordinates: 40.59988, -111.959899 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5999&lon=-111.9599&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 1, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50749 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50749/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA020 ## Probable cause the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing. Contributing factors were the total loss of engine power due to the failure of the pilot to adjust the manual propeller pitch to permit the engine to achieve sufficient rpm for sustained flight, and the subsequent fouling of the spark plugs due to the over rich fuel condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - propeller system/accessories,pitch change mech (contributing factor) - maintenance,adjustment - improper, owner/builder (contributing factor) - powerplant - underspeed (contributing factor) - ignition system,spark plug - fouled (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing after takeoff - object - building(nonresidential) - terrain condition - none suitable (cause) ## Analysis The pilot said he was flight-testing the newly finished homebuilt airplane. The original plans called for a fixed pitch propeller. The pilot said that he had put a manually adjustable pitch propeller on the airplane, and he had adjusted it for cruise flight. He said that once he was airborne, the engine began "lugging" and quickly lost power. He started a right turn to crosswind, and simultaneously began to perform a forced landing. Subsequently, the airplane struck a building and some transmission wires before coming to rest. Postaccident examination of the engine by an FAA inspector revealed that the spark plugs were wet with fuel. The inspector also found heavy carbon deposits in the exhaust stack. ## Factual narrative On December 8, 2000, at approximately 1245 mountain standard time, a Thomas VP-1 homebuilt airplane, N89KD, was destroyed when it impacted the ground during a forced landing near Salt Lake City Municipal 2 Airport, West Jordan, Utah. The pilot received serious injuries. The pilot/builder was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for this local personal flight that was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot said he was flight-testing the newly finished homebuilt airplane. The original plans called for a fixed pitch propeller. The pilot said that he had put a manually adjustable pitch propeller on the airplane, and he had adjusted it for cruise flight. He said that once he was airborne, the engine began "lugging," and it quickly lost power. He started a right turn to crosswind, and simultaneously began to perform a forced landing. Subsequently, the airplane struck a building and some transmission wires. The airplane came to rest upright. Postaccident examination of the engine by an FAA inspector revealed that the spark plugs were wet with fuel. The inspector also found heavy carbon deposits in the exhaust stack. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N89KD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N89KD-2001-09-25), registration cancelled 2001-09-25, S/N 1 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Thomas VP-1 - Registry model: [Thomas Robert R VP-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/thomas-robert-r-vp-1) (registry code 05606L3) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Engines: Volkswagen 1600 CC 57 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert R. Thomas - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: U42 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 486 total, 1 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 6 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken - Temperature: 102 °F, dew point 86 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SLC, 10 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 20001208028739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001208028739A), Dec 8, 2000: Amtr VP1, Salt Lake City, UT, No damage. (-23) At 1240 on 12/08/00 the pilot took off from Salt Lake City airport #2 on runway 16. After becoming airborne the a/c was unable to gain altitude. The a/c… 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.