- Date
- May 12, 2002, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Lubbock, TX
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N2NXAubrey Challenger II
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 29, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20020512007929A
- Case key
- 54687
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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
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 was in his initial climb after takeoff at 200-300 feet AGL when the engine lost power. He turned right to clear some power lines and tried to glide to a parking lot. Subsequently, the aircraft contacted a berm of soft dirt. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
Factual narrative
On May 12, 2002, approximately 1630 central daylight time, an Aubrey Challenger II homebuilt experimental airplane, N2NX, registered to and operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during takeoff from the Town and Country Airport, Lubbock, Texas. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
According to information provided in the enclosed NTSB Pilot/Operator Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported that the airplane was in the initial climb after takeoff at 200-300 feet AGL when the engine lost power. He turned right to clear some power lines and tried to glide to a parking lot. Subsequently, the aircraft contacted a berm of soft dirt resulting in structural damage to the fuselage. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2NX
- Reported as
- Aubrey Challenger II
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- CH20391cw0660
- Engine
- Hirth 2703, 55 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Harvey H. Madison
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 28, 2002
- Departed
- F82 · Lubbock, TX
- Destination
- F82 · Lubbock, TX
- Airport
- F82 · Town & Country Airpark, runway 35, 3,500 × 50 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
- Serious
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- January 16, 2002
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 95 total · 12 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.29 inHg
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 10, 2003, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 680 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N2NX · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.