- Date
- October 31, 1993, 14:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place
- Fontana, CA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8SJSilver KR2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 1, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19931031041259A
- Case key
- 28587
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 separation of an engine coolant hose which resulted in a complete loss of engine power.
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 this was the first actual flight of the newly certificated experimental aircraft which was equipped with a modified Subaru automobile engine. The pilot said he had been airborne for about 15 minutes when a spray of coolant appeared on his windshield. The engine subsequently quit and the aircraft collided with high vegetation and ground obstructions during a forced landing in a field. The pilot said that a coolant hose separated.
Factual narrative
On October 31, 1993, at 1415 Pacific standard time, a homebuilt experimental Silver KR2 airplane, N8SJ, collided with ground obstructions during a forced landing in Fontana, California. The forced landing was precipitated by a total loss of engine power. The aircraft, owned and operated by the pilot, was on its first test flight following construction and certification. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The flight originated at the Rialto, California, airport on the day of the mishap at 1400 hours as a local area test flight.
The pilot reported that this was the first actual flight of the newly certificated experimental aircraft, which was equipped with a modified Subaru automobile engine. The pilot said he had been airborne for about 15 minutes when a spray of coolant appeared on his windshield. The engine subsequently quit and the aircraft collided with high vegetation and ground obstructions during a forced landing in a field. The pilot said that a coolant hose separated.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8SJ
- Reported as
- Silver KR2
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 001
- Airframe hours
- 1
- Engine
- Subaru EA82, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Jack Silver
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 31, 1993 · 1 hours before
- Departed
- L67 · Rialto, CA
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
- 76
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,500 total · 1 in this make and model · 2,000 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.