- Date
- June 26, 1998, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Louisa, VA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N6188XHoffmann Fisher FP 404
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 31, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980626024549A
- Case key
- 43179
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
Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
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 reported that he was cruising at 1,500 feet MSL, en route to purchase fuel, when the engine RPM dropped from 5,800 to 3,000. He said he, 'played with the throttle,' but was unable to maintain altitude, and elected to perform a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane exited the field, crossed a fence, and impacted on State Route 68. Examination of the fuel in the gascolator revealed no water or contaminants. The examination did not reveal any anomalies with the airplane or the uncertificated two cycle engine.
Factual narrative
On June 26, 1998, at 1700 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt, Fisher FP 404, N6188X, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during a forced landing near Louisa, Virginia. The certificated private pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Warrenton, Virginia, and was destined for Louisa, Virginia.
According to the pilot, he was cruising at 1,500 feet MSL, en route to Louisa to purchase fuel, when the engine RPM dropped from 5,800 to 3,000. The pilot said he, "played with the throttle," but was unable to maintain altitude, and elected to perform a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane exited the field, crossed a fence, and impacted on State Route 68.
The airplane was moved to a hangar where a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector examined the wreckage. According to the Inspector, the uncertificated two cycle engine was rotated manually, and it was lubricated. Examination of the fuel in the gascolator revealed no water or contaminants. The examination did not reveal any anomalies with the airplane or the engine.
The pilot reported over 190 hours of total flight experience including 12 hours in make and model. He said the total capacity of the fuel tank was 7 1/2 gallons, and the fuel burn was 5 gallons per hour. He said he was airborne less than an hour, and he should have had at least 2 to 2 1/2 gallons of fuel remaining.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6188X
- Reported as
- Hoffmann Fisher FP 404 (FISHER FP)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 4155
- Airframe hours
- 55
- Engine
- Rotax 503, 50 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Charles J Becker
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 14, 1997 · 55 hours before
- Departed
- W66 · Warrenton, VA
- Destination
- LKU · VA
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
- 32
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 190 total · 12 in this make and model · 148 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 91 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.