- Date
- May 3, 2008, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place
- Wagner, OK
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N19HTThompson Howard Pazmany PL-2
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Flight Standards Disctrict Office
- FAA report
- 20080503836949A
- Case key
- 67930
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
Loss of power for undetermined reasons.
Findings · 3
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 private pilot reported that his single-engine experimental airplane experienced a complete loss of engine power on initial climb after takeoff. An attempt to re-start the engine was successful and the pilot elected to return to the airport and land. Shortly after the restart, the engine again experienced a complete loss of power and attempts to restart were unsuccessful. The pilot selected a forced landing to an area of small trees rather than an alternative forced landing in a lake. During the landing the airplane sustained substantial damage and came to rest upright in a nose down attitude. The pilot and his passenger received minor injuries. In a written statement from the passenger the airplane was fueled prior to take off from several hand carried gas cans that were brought to the airport by the pilot. Although the owner/builder of the airplane reported that the airplane regularly used auto gas and that water in the fuel was common, the cause of the loss of the engine power could not be determined.
Factual narrative
The private pilot reported that his single-engine experimental airplane experienced a complete loss of engine power on initial climb after takeoff. An attempt to re-start the engine was successful and the pilot elected to return to the airport and land. Shortly after the restart, the engine again experienced a complete loss of power and attempts to restart were unsuccessful. The pilot selected a forced landing to an area of small trees rather than an alternative forced landing in a lake. During the landing the airplane sustained substantial damage and came to rest upright in a nose down attitude. The pilot and his passenger received minor injuries. In a written statement from the passenger the airplane was fueled prior to take off from several hand carried gas cans that were brought to the airport by the pilot. Although the owner/builder of the airplane reported that the airplane regularly used auto gas and that water in the fuel was common, the cause of the loss of the engine power could not be determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N19HT
- Reported as
- Thompson Howard Pazmany PL-2
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 125
- Airframe hours
- 49
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · April 1, 2008
- Departed
- H68 · Wagner, OK
- Destination
- KASD · Springdale, AR
- Airport
- H68 · Hefner-Easley Airport, runway 36, 3,405 × 60 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
- 55
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 5,000 total · 49 in this make and model · 25 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 14 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.06 inHg
- Observed at
- KTQH
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.