- Date
- June 19, 2008, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Kamiah, ID
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N7530LUetz, Walter Spitfire II
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (total)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 30, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20080619839439A
- Case key
- 68266
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, and the pilot's failure maintain the proper descent rate during the last part of his approach to a forced landing in an open hayfield.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
While on downwind for landing, the experimental airplane, which had nearly a full load of fuel onboard, experienced a total loss of engine power. During his attempt to execute a forced landing in a nearby open hayfield, the pilot allowed the airplane's descent rate to become excessive. The excessive descent rate resulted in a hard landing, during which both wing and fuselage structure were bent and fractured. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
Factual narrative
While on downwind for landing, the experimental airplane, which had nearly a full load of fuel onboard, experienced a total loss of engine power. During his attempt to execute a forced landing in a nearby open hayfield, the pilot allowed the airplane's descent rate to become excessive. The excessive descent rate resulted in a hard landing, during which both wing and fuselage structure were bent and fractured. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7530L
- Reported as
- Uetz, Walter Spitfire II
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15532
- Airframe hours
- 300
- Engine
- Rotax 582, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Mike Howzen
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · January 1, 2008
- Departed
- S73 · ID
- Destination
- S73
- Airport
- S73 · Kamiah Municipal, runway 32
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
- 53
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2
- Flight hours
- 8,000 total · 1 in this make and model · 50 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.