- Date
- July 10, 1993, 18:30 local (Jul 11, 1993, 01:30 UTC)
- Place
- Lodi, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N31349Stephens VP2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 26, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930710022969A
- Case key
- 28424
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 grounding of the magneto coil to the magneto case due to a crack in the coil sheath.
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
During the takeoff initial climb the engine RPM's dropped from 3,150 to about 2,600. The power level produced by the engine was insufficient to maintain altitude and the pilot landed in a corn field about one-half mile from the airport. The aircraft sustained damage during the on ground collision with corn plants and soft, plowed dirt. The Volkswagen 1800cc engine and related subsystems were taken to an FAA certified repair station for a detailed examination. The repair station noted that the engine had been modified with the installation of a single Slick model 4216 magneto for the ignition system. The magneto was removed from the engine and disassembled. A crack was observed in the coil at a location close to the magneto case. Black ash deposits were noted on both the coil and the magneto housing.
Factual narrative
On July 10, 1993, at 1830 Pacific daylight time, a homebuilt experimental Stephens VP2, N31349, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing in a corn field near Lodi, California. The forced landing was initiated following a loss of power in the takeoff initial climb from the Kingdon airport, Lodi, California.
Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The certificated airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the mishap as a local area personal flight.
The pilot stated that during the takeoff initial climb the engine RPM's dropped from 3,150 to about 2,600. The power level produced by the engine was insufficient to maintain altitude and the pilot landed in a corn field about one-half mile from the airport. The aircraft sustained damage during the on ground collision with corn plants and soft, plowed dirt.
The Volkswagen 1800cc engine and related subsystems were taken to an FAA certified repair station for a detailed examination. During disassembly of the Posa carburetor, the main metering valve was found rotated 20 to 25 degrees from it's normal position. A technical representative from Posa stated that while the valve could have been a factor, the factory was aware of cases of much greater valve rotation where the engine continued to produce full power.
The repair station noted that the engine had been modified with the installation of a single Slick model 4216 magneto for the ignition system. The magneto was removed from the engine and disassembled. A crack was observed in the coil at a location close to the magneto case. Black ash deposits were noted on both the coil and the magneto housing.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N31349
- Reported as
- Stephens VP2
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- V23268
- Airframe hours
- 250
- Engine
- Volkswagen 1800CC, 50 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Thomas D. Dunham
- Registered owner
- John A. Dunham
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 30, 1993 · 5 hours before
- Departed
- O20
- Destination
- O20
- Airport
- O20 · Kingdon Airpark, runway 30, 4,000 × 60 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
- 48
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 9,000 total · 15 in this make and model · 8,500 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.