- Date
- August 20, 2005, 10:10 local (17:10 UTC)
- Place
- Mead, WA
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N7702XTichacek N-3 Pup
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 28, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20050820017689A
- Case key
- 62298
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 total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
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 said that he had flown this airplane before, but this was the first flight with this engine. He said that immediately after takeoff the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot told the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector that he did not want to land in a housing area at the end of the runway; therefore, he reversed his flight path by applying full left rudder. The first responders found that the airplane had impacted a shed approximately 150 yards past the departure end of runway 34; the pilot said the airplane came to rest on airport property. The airplane's left wing was broken and nearly separated from the fuselage.
Factual narrative
On August 20, 2005, at approximately 1010 Pacific daylight time, a Tichacek, Preceptor, N-3 PUP experimental homebuilt, N7702X, was destroyed when it impacted a shed following a loss of power near Mead Flying Service Airport, Mead, Washington. The non-certificated pilot, the sole person on board, was seriously injured. The pilot/builder was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight which was originating at the time of the accident. A flight plan had not been filed.
The pilot said that he had flown this airplane before, but this was the first flight with this engine. He said that immediately after takeoff the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot told the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector that he did not want to land in a housing area at the end of the runway; therefore, he reversed his flight path by applying full left rudder. The first responders found that the airplane had impacted a shed approximately 150 yards past the departure end of runway 34; the pilot said the airplane came to rest on airport property. The airplane's left wing was broken and nearly separated from the fuselage; the pilot experienced a broken back and pelvis.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7702X
- Reported as
- Tichacek N-3 Pup
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- N85621-11
- Airframe hours
- 2
- Engine
- Volkswagen 1835, 60 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Darrel E. Tichacek
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 1, 2005 · 2 hours before
- Departed
- 70S · Mead, WA
- Destination
- 70S
- Airport
- 70S · Mead Flying Service Airport, runway 34, 2,480 × 30 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
- 74
- Injuries
- Serious
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 1,300 total · 1,300 in this make and model · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 80° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.10 inHg
- Observed at
- SFF, 14 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.