Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Peculiar, Missouri 64078
Sunday, April 20, 2003 15:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The amateur-built airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing into trees after a complete loss of engine power during cruise flight. The pilot reported he was in cruise flight when, "the engine stopped running after I inadvertently hit the 'KILL' switch. Realizing what I had done, I place the switch back in the 'ON' position, but could not get the engine to restart." The pilot attempted to execute a forced landing to a clearing, but the airplane hit two tall trees and became hung up in their branches. The pilot exited the airplane and climbed down to lower branches where rescuers assisted in getting him to the ground. The pilot reported he will change the location of the kill switch when he rebuilds the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadvertent shutdown of the engine. Contributing factors were unsuitable terrain and trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/20/2003
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Peculiar
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 64078
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 384202N
Event Location Longitude 0942825W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1453 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 330
Weather Observation Facility ID OJC
Elevation of weather observation facility 1096
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4300
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 16
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14548
NTSB Notification Source Pilot
NTSB Notification Date May 7 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 30 2003 8:55AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA-Kansas City FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N42KY
NTSB Number CHI03LA120
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Yadon
Aircraft Model Starflight Stiletto
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 5033
Certified Max Gross Weight 450
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 Jun 3 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 126
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Tom Tietze
Aircraft Owner Street Address 15121 Blackfoot Dr.
Aircraft Owner City Olathe
Aircraft Owner State KS
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 66062
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 No
Departure Airport Code 63K
Departure City Stilwell
Departure State KS
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1445
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Nov 4 2003 8:23AM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --