# NTSB MIA07LA132: Roger A Dalke E.B. Jenny, N59486, Wakefield, VA, August 11, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 11, 2007, 10:05 local (14:05 UTC) - Place: Wakefield, VA - Coordinates: 37.25, -76.5 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2500&lon=-76.5000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 66501 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA07LA132 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66501/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA07LA132 ## Probable cause The pilot/owner's inadequate maintenance which resulted in a radiator leak, a loss of engine coolant, the engine overheating, and partial loss of engine power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal - maintenance - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - cooling system,radiator - leak - engine assembly - overtemperature - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - crop ## Analysis The pilot stated that after takeoff, he climbed to an altitude of 1,000 feet, and as he scanned the airplane's gauges, he noticed that the engine outlet coolant temperature had climbed to the red line (220 degrees F). He said he then checked the engine inlet coolant temperature and he noticed that it was still in the green (180 degrees F), and then checked the oil temperature and noticed that it was normal. As he continued the flight he said that he watched the gauges more closely and a few minutes later the inlet coolant temperature began to climb to the red line, while the coolant outlet temperature dropped to zero. He said that at that point he knew he was in trouble, and in an attempt not to experience a total engine failure he made a precautionary landing to a cotton field. He said the cotton plants were high and during the landing the airplane flipped over on its back, and stopped in a distance of less than 200 feet. The pilot said that at no time did the engine cease operating. An FAA inspector conducted a postcrash examination of the airframe, the engine and accessories, and the examination revealed that the radiator had incurred no accident related damage, however, there was a leak at the soldered radiator drain fitting. ## Factual narrative On August 11, 2007, about 1005 eastern daylight time, a Roger A. Dalke, model E.B. Jenny experimental amateur built airplane, N59486, registered to, and operated by a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed shortly after takeoff in Wakefield, Virginia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The airline transport-rated pilot received minor injuries, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated in Wakefield, Virginia, the same day, about 1000. The pilot stated that after takeoff, he climbed to an altitude of 1,000 feet, and as he scanned the airplane's gauges, he noticed that the engine outlet coolant temperature had climbed to the red line (220 degrees F). He said he then checked the engine inlet coolant temperature and he noticed that it was still in the green (180 degrees F), and then checked the oil temperature and noticed that it was normal. As he continued the flight he said watched the gauges more closely and a few minutes later the inlet coolant temperature began to climb to red line, while the coolant outlet temperature dropped to zero. He said that at that point he knew he was in trouble, and began to look for a location to land. He throttled back to half power, hoping to avoid a total engine power stoppage, and chose a cotton field to make an emergency landing. The cotton was tall in the field and as he was affecting the precautionary landing the airplane flipped over on its back, and stopped in a distance of less than 200 feet from its first contact with the cotton. The pilot said that at no time did the engine cease operating. An FAA inspector conducted a postcrash examination of the airframe, the engine and accessories, and the examination revealed that the radiator had incurred no accident related damage, however there was a leak at the soldered radiator drain fitting. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N59486](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N59486-2025-07-29), registration cancelled 2025-07-29, S/N 486, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Roger A Dalke E.B. Jenny - Registry model: [Dalke Roger A E B JENNY](https://openairdocs.org/model/dalke-roger-a-e-b-jenny) (registry code 05621YQ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 486 - Airframe hours: 69 - Engines: Suzuki 1.0 Turbo 70 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lester E. Hershey - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, March 1, 2007 - Departed: AKQ, Wakefield, VA - Destination: AKO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review March 1, 2007; seat: rear; flight hours: 12,850 total, 40 in this make and model, 7,710 as pilot in command, 89 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RIC ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20070811017769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070811017769A), Aug 11, 2007: Amtr EBJENNY, Surry County, VA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot reported he departed akq at 1000 local. After approximately 10 minutes, he observed the engine coolant temperature indicator near red line.… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.