Fostoria Metro Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fostoria, Ohio 44830
Wednesday, April 2, 1997 17:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff at about 100 feet AGL, the engine lost power. During a subsequent forced landing, the airplane nosed over in a wheat field. Examination of the airplane revealed that the two wires that provide battery power to the engine ignition had separated. When the wires were reconnected, the ignition system functioned normally. The ignition switch was located on the instrument panel, which was part of the canopy that rotated approximately 90 degrees, when it was opened.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

a disconnect of electrical wires to the engine ignition, which resulted in loss of engine power and a forced landing. Factors relating to the accident were: the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing, and the wheat (crop) that was encountered during the landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/2/1997
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City FOSTORIA
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 44830
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport FOSTORIA METRO
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FZI
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 752
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1715 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 51
Weather Observation Facility ID FDY
Elevation of weather observation facility 812
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 22
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1403
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 2 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1955
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:13PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N53ET
NTSB Number IAD97LA061
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Theis
Aircraft Model QUICKIE
Aircraft Series Identifier QUICKIE
Aircraft Serial Number 007
Certified Max Gross Weight 480
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 30 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 20
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT A THEIS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2473 US 23 NORTH
Aircraft Owner City FOSTORIA
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 44830
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code FZI
Departure City
Departure State OH
Departure Country
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 4199
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --