- Date
- October 24, 2009, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Jensen, UT
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N440KCGolden Circle Tierra I
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 23, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20091024052689A
- Case key
- 75170
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
A loss of engine power, as reported by the pilot, for undetermined reasons.
Findings · 1
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
In a telephone interview with a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the non-certificated pilot reported that while descending to land the engine failed to respond to throttle input and lost power. The pilot landed short and nosed over in shallow water during an attempt to land on a sandbar. The inspector reported that the tubular wing support structure and left wing sustained substantial damage. When asked by the inspector what might have caused the engine to fail, the pilot responded, "I think I loaded it up when I added power and the engine quit." The inspector stated that attempts to meet with the pilot to discuss the accident further were unsuccessful. The pilot failed to submit a NTSB Form 6120.1, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report as requested.
Factual narrative
In a telephone interview with a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the non-certificated pilot reported that while descending to land the engine failed to respond to throttle input and lost power. The pilot landed short and nosed over in shallow water during an attempt to land on a sandbar. The inspector reported that the tubular wing support structure and left wing sustained substantial damage. When asked by the inspector what might have caused the engine to fail, the pilot responded, "I think I loaded it up when I added power and the engine quit." The inspector stated that attempts to meet with the pilot to discuss the accident further were unsuccessful. The pilot failed to submit a NTSB Form 6120.1, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report as requested.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N440KC
- Reported as
- Golden Circle Tierra I
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 001
- Engine
- Rotax 582, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Kerry S. Crofts
- Registered owner
- Kerry S. Crofts
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Departed
- VER · Vernal, UT
- Destination
- VER · Vernal, UT
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
- 49
- Injuries
- None
- Medical
- Unknown
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 20 total · 20 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 60° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.79 inHg
- Observed at
- VEL, 11 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 14, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 20 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.