# NTSB FTW00LA106: Ward Acro, N79RW, Beasley, TX, March 25, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 25, 2000, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Beasley, TX - Coordinates: 29.490886, -95.91053 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4909&lon=-95.9105&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 51126 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW00LA106 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51126/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA106 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, descent - reason for occurrence undetermined - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, emergency landing ## Analysis The amateur-built airplane departed the airport on a local test flight. After a 20 minute flight, the pilot returned to the airport and 'closed the throttle to glide down to 1,000 feet pattern altitude to land. At pattern altitude, opened throttle-engine was dead.' He attempted to re-start the engine, but was not successful. The airplane touched down in a grain field short of the runway, crossed a road, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The airplane, which was powered by a 520-horsepower Chevrolet V-8 automotive engine, had accumulated a total of 6.1 hours. No further examination was conducted. ## Factual narrative On March 25, 2000, at 1430 central standard time, a Ward Acro amateur-built airplane, N79RW, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Beasley, Texas. The private pilot, who was the registered owner and builder of the single-seat airplane, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 local personal flight. The flight originated from the Ward Airpark, Beasley, Texas, at 1410. The pilot reported that he departed Ward Airpark for a local test flight. He returned to the airport after a 20 minute flight and "closed the throttle to glide down to 1,000 feet pattern altitude to land. At pattern altitude, opened throttle-engine was dead." He attempted to re-start the engine, but was unsuccessful. During the ensuing forced landing the airplane touched down in a grain field approximately 300 feet short of the runway. During the landing roll, the airplane crossed a road and became airborne a second time. During the second ground contact, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The FAA inspector, who examined the airplane, reported that the rudder was bent, and the engine mount and propeller were damaged. He further reported that the airplane, which was powered by a 520-horespower Chevrolet V-8 automotive engine, had accumulated a total flight time of 6.1 hours. No further examination was conducted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N79RW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N79RW-2005-11-30), registration cancelled 2005-11-30, S/N 99, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ward ACRO - Registry model: [Ward Ray WARD ACRO](https://openairdocs.org/model/ward-ray-ward-acro) (registry code 05605GJ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 99 - Airframe hours: 7 - Engines: R.A. Ward CHEVROLET V8 520 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Raymond A. Ward - Last inspection: Annual, February 5, 2000, 10 hours before - Departed: 5TA9 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 1,770 total, 1,770 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SGR, 15 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 20000325023559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000325023559A), Mar 25, 2000: Amtr WARDACRO, Beasley, TX, Substantial damage. (.4)The amateur-built airplane departed the airport on a local test flight. After a 20 minute flight, the pilot returned to the airport and 'closed the… 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.