Henderson Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Henderson, Nevada 89015
Saturday, October 2, 1999 8:45 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

About 100 feet above ground level during initial climb, the experimental airplane's engine began vibrating, sputtering, and losing power. The pilot adjusted the mixture and throttle controls, but was unable to regain sufficient rpm to sustain flight. The pilot made a forced landing on rough desert terrain, about 1 mile from the departure airport. During the subsequent engine examination, no evidence of case or cylinder damage was noted. Oil was found on the dipstick, the carburetor was intact, and the throttle control was secure. The reason for the partial loss of engine power was not determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A partial loss of engine power for undetermined nonmechanical reasons. A contributing factor was the rough nature of the terrain used for the forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/2/1999
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 845
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City HENDERSON
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89015
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport HENDERSON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID L15
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 225
Airport Elevation 2458
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 856 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 45
Weather Observation Facility ID L15
Elevation of weather observation facility 2458
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1829
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 2 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1010
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Apr 27 2001 4:05AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4526W
NTSB Number LAX00LA001
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 Ismari
Aircraft Model CANARD C3A
Aircraft Series Identifier CANARD C3A
Aircraft Serial Number 01
Certified Max Gross Weight 1000
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 14 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 638
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DONALD L. ISMARI
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1774 LAKEWOOD DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City HENDERSON
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89012
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 L15
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 842
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code L15
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 27 2001 4:05AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --