# NTSB FTW86FRG19: Soward Rutan Longeze, N196MS, Georgetown, TX, May 22, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: May 22, 1986, 18:59 local (23:59 UTC)
- Place: Georgetown, TX
- Coordinates: 30.639137, -97.680038 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6391&lon=-97.6800&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21968
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW86FRG19
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21968/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW86FRG19

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Fire, climb - to cruise
  - engine assembly,other - fire (cause)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - emergency
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED AFTER HITTING TREES ON SHORT FINAL FOLLOWING AN INFLIGHT FIRE AND AN ENG FAILURE. THE ACFT WAS ON IT'S FIRST FLT FOLLOWING AN ENG OVERHAUL AND HAD BEEN AIRBORNE ABOUT 2 MINUTES WHEN GROUND AND AIR OBSERVERS NOTICED SMOKE TRAILING FROM THE ENG COMPARTMENT. THE OBSERVERS INFORMED THE PLT AND HE WAS ATTEMPTING A TURN TO RETURN TO THE ARPT WHEN THE ENG QUIT. HE SUBSEQUENTLY ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. ON SHORT FINAL, THE ACFT STRUCK TREES, IMPACTED IN A STREET AND SKIDDED INTO 2 VEHICLES PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY. THE PLT DIED AS A RESULT OF THE ENSUING FIRE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N196MS (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SOWARD RUTAN LONGEZE (RUTAN LONG)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1196
- Airframe hours: 1
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Both
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Soward, Marvin, doing business as Johnston Julius Carlin
- Registered owner: Soward, Marvin
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 1986, 1 hours before
- Departed: TO4, GEORGETOWN, TX
- Airport: TO4, Georgetown, runway 18, 4,100 × 100 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,833 total, 126 in this make and model, 32 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: AUS

## 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 19860522022309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860522022309A), May 22, 1986: Amtrru VARIEZELONG, Georgetown, TX, Destroyed. The aircraft caught fire after takeoff and struck trees and cars during landing. Cause of fire unknown.

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.

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