# NTSB MIA99LA268: Banting Glasair II, N55BP, River Ranch, FL, September 25, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 25, 1999, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: River Ranch, FL - Coordinates: 27.780141, -81.199966 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7801&lon=-81.2000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47449 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA99LA268 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47449/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA268 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a forced landing to non-suitable terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, descent - powerplant - undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable - terrain condition - swampy ## Analysis Upon arrival at his destination airport, the pilot entered the traffic pattern for landing. When engine power was reduced, the engine started to sputter. The pilot increased power, turned the boost pump on, and changed the fuel selector valve with negative results. He informed UNICOM that he would be unable to make the runway. A local highway was obstructed due to vehicle traffic and a forced landing was conducted to a marshy area. Examination of the engine assembly and accessories did not reveal the cause of engine roughness or subsequent total loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On September 25, 1999, at about 1130 eastern daylight time, a Banting Glasair II, N55BP, registered to a private owner, operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, experienced a total loss of engine power in the vicinity of River Ranch, Florida, and a forced landing was made to a marshy area. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from Lakeland, Florida, about 45 minutes before the accident. The pilot stated he had been working on a fuel problem with the airplane for the last 2 1/2 months. He had replaced several components on the engine, and the problem went away. He decided to take the airplane on a cross-country flight in preparation for a longer flight. Upon arrival at the destination airport, he called UNICOM and another airplane reported in for landing. He eventually entered the traffic pattern for a left downwind to runway 16. Power was reduced to 2,000 rpm, the airspeed decreased to 140, and flaps were lowered. The engine started to sputter. He increased power, turned the boost pump on, and changed the fuel selector valve from the main tank to the header tank with negative results. He informed UNICOM that he would be unable to make the runway, and turned the airplane to line up with highway 60 as a forced landing area. The approach was discontinued due to vehicle traffic. He made another turn towards a marshy area located next to the highway, and made a forced landing. Examination of the crash site by the FAA revealed the forced landing area was unsuitable, and no other forced landing areas were available. No determination could be made as to the cause of engine roughness or stoppage resulting in the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: N55BP (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Banting GLASAIR II - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 2281 - Airframe hours: 550 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Banting W / Pardee K - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 10, 1999, 50 hours before - Departed: LAL, LAKELAND, FL - Destination: 2RR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 484 total, 312 in this make and model, 484 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 14 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LAL ## 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 19990925041309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990925041309A), Sep 25, 1999: Amtr GLASAIRIIFT, River Ranch, FL, Substantial damage. (.4) Upon arrival at his destination airport, the pilot entered the traffic pattern for landing. When engine power was reduced, the engine started to sputter.… 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.