- Date
- August 29, 1996, 19:00 local (Aug 30, 1996, 00:00 UTC)
- Place
- Monticello, AR
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N42JHHardie KIT FOX XL
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 23, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 19967
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
According to the pilot, he was flying 'low' looking at a crop duster strip. When he advanced the throttle to climb, the airplane's engine 'stopped producing power.' The pilot reported that because of low altitude and the distance from the duster strip, he elected to land the airplane in a rice field. Upon impact with the ground, the 'landing gear collapsed and the plane cart-wheeled' before coming to rest approximately 20 yards from the approach end of the duster strip.
Factual narrative
On August 29, 1996, at 1900 central daylight time, a Hardie Kit Fox XL, N42JH, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Monticello, Arkansas. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private owner under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that originated from Monticello Municipal Airport approximately 15 minutes before the accident. A flight plan was not filed.
According to the pilot, he was flying "low" looking at a crop duster strip. When he advanced the throttle to climb, the airplane's engine "stopped producing power." The pilot reported that because of low altitude and the distance from the duster strip, he elected to land the airplane in a rice field. Upon impact with the ground, the "landing gear collapsed and the plane cart-wheeled" before coming to rest approximately 20 yards from the approach end of the duster strip.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N42JH
- Reported as
- Hardie KIT FOX XL
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- JCX014
- Airframe hours
- 144
- Engine
- Rotax 503-UL-DCDI, 50 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Michael S. Dale
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 22, 1995 · 78 hours before
- Departed
- M76
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
- 28
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 198 total · 69 in this make and model · 150 as pilot in command · 21 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F
Other investigations on N42JH · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.