- Date
- April 2, 1997, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- Fostoria, OH
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N53ETTheis Quickie
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 30, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970402004109A
- Case key
- 28184
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
a disconnect of electrical wires to the engine ignition, which resulted in loss of engine power and a forced landing. Factors relating to the accident were: the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing, and the wheat (crop) that was encountered during the 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, shortly after takeoff at about 100 feet AGL, the engine lost power. During a subsequent forced landing, the airplane nosed over in a wheat field. Examination of the airplane revealed that the two wires that provide battery power to the engine ignition had separated. When the wires were reconnected, the ignition system functioned normally. The ignition switch was located on the instrument panel, which was part of the canopy that rotated approximately 90 degrees, when it was opened.
Factual narrative
On April 2, 1997, at 1700 eastern standard time, N53ET, a Theis Quickie, a homebuilt airplane, was substantially damaged after it impacted terrain near Fostoria, Ohio. The certificated airline transport pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the local, personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated in Fostoria, Ohio.
According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff from runway 27, at 100 feet AGL, the engine lost power. During the forced landing in a wheat field, the airplane nosed over.
The airplane was examined at the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector. The examination revealed fuel in the fuel line, and in the carburetor. Engine continuity was confirmed; however, there was no spark when the engine was rotated by hand.
Examination of the cockpit ignition switch revealed that the two wires that provide battery power to the engine ignition unit were separated from the switch. When the two wires were re-connected, the ignition system operated satisfactory.
The ignition switch was located in the instrument panel, which was a part of the canopy that rotated approximately 90 degrees when it opened. The wire routing, from the switch to the engine ignition unit ran along the right side of the cockpit, the same side the canopy was hinged. There was impact damage in this area, and it was not determined if the wires separated during the impact.
According to the FAA, the wire routing was observed to be tight, without much slack to accommodate the travel of the switch when the canopy was opened. When the canopy was opened, there was stress on the ignition wires, and on the switch.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N53ET
- Reported as
- Theis Quickie
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 007
- Airframe hours
- 20
- Engine
- Onan 22 HP, 22 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Robert A Theis
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 30, 1996 · 20 hours before
- Departed
- FZI · OH
- Airport
- FZI · Fostoria Metro, runway 27, 4,199 × 100 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
- 43
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 10,000 total · 20 in this make and model · 80 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FDY, 22 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.