# NTSB WPR18LA007: Thomas Stephen Glasair Super II RG, N248ST, Santa Ynez, CA, October 5, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 5, 2017, 10:53 local (17:53 UTC)
- Place: Santa Ynez, CA
- Coordinates: 34.606945, -120.075553 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6069&lon=-120.0756&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 96167
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18LA007
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96167/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96167
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA007

## Probable cause

A partial loss of engine power for reasons that were not determined.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined; cases with it: [Thomas Stephen GLASAIR SUPER II RG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05628OU), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Emergency descent: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Thomas Stephen GLASAIR SUPER II RG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=05628OU), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Thomas Stephen GLASAIR SUPER II RG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05628OU), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that his intent was to practice touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. The first takeoff and landing to a full stop was normal. The pilot reported he taxied back and initiated a full throttle takeoff. He reported that after lifting off at 70 knots, the engine continued to run but was no longer producing power, and the airplane began to descend. The pilot reduced the throttle and initiated a forced landing to a grass field. The airplane traveled through the airport perimeter fence and continued to a road where it contacted a dirt berm. The foreign manufactured engine was an unusual design. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to contact and work with the manufacturer to determine the cause of the partial loss of engine power.

## Factual narrative

On October 5, 2017, at 1053 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Glasair Super II RG, N248ST, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Santa Ynez, California. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported his intent for the flight was to practice touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. The first takeoff and landing to a full stop was normal. The pilot taxied back, and the pilot initiated a full throttle takeoff. Shortly after lifting off at 70 knots, the pilot noticed that the engine stopped producing power and the airplane started to descend. The pilot reduced the throttle and initiated a forced landing to a grass field. The airplane traveled through the airport perimeter fence and continued to a road where it contacted a dirt berm. The wings were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that the engine continued to run, and the propeller continued to turn throughout the landing roll until the propeller hit the dirt berm and the engine stopped. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site. He verified that fuel was present in the fuel tanks. The pilot told him that he had refueled the airplane with 15 gallons of fuel in each wing, about 2 weeks before the accident. The engine was not examined, and the reason for the partial loss of engine power was not determined.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N248ST](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N248ST), registered now, S/N 001, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: THOMAS STEPHEN GLASAIR SUPER II RG (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Thomas Stephen GLASAIR SUPER II RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/thomas-stephen-glasair-super-ii-rg) (registry code 05628OU) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Mistral G-190](https://openairdocs.org/engine/mistral-g-190) (registry code 44100, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 001
- Year built: 2010
- Engines: Mistral Engines SA G200-C1B 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2017, 43.5 hours before
- Departed: IZA, Santa Ynez, CA
- Destination: IZA, Santa Ynez, CA
- Airport: IZA, Santa Ynez, runway 26, 2,803 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 732.7 total, 86.4 in this make and model, 709.3 as pilot in command, 3.3 in the last 90 days, 3.3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: KIZA

## 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 20171005014329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171005014329A), Oct 5, 2017: Thomas Stephen GLASAIR SUPER II RG, Santa Ynez, CA, Substantial damage. Shortly after the second departure, while conducting traffic pattern work, the engine lost power. Pilot initiated an off field landing, striking a dirt berm…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 6, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96167. 4.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12872379&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N248ST%20NTSB%20Report%20-%2010-31-17_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Summary findings (FAA) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13604384&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Summary%20of%20Findings%20(FAA)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 582 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13448450&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Release%20of%20Wreckage%20WPR18LA007_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 730 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13581759&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photo1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- NTSB memorandum of record (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13766085&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record-Rel.pdf

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.