Elko Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Elko, Nevada 89815
Sunday, February 29, 2004 9:20 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During cruise flight the experimental airplane's engine lost all power. The pilot made a forced landing in a field. During rollout the airplane collided with a snow berm. An examination of the engine by the airplane owner revealed its ignition system's electrical coil had failed. The pilot was the airplane's manufacturer.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to the failure of an ignition system component.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/29/2004
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 920
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Elko
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89815
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 403830N
Event Location Longitude 1154236W
Event Location Airport Elko Regional
Event Location Nearest Airport ID EKO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 12
Degrees magnetic from airport 170
Airport Elevation 5140
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 946 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 170
Weather Observation Facility ID ELK
Elevation of weather observation facility 5140
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4700
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.03
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17760
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Feb 29 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 955
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 8 2005 12:51PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-RNO-FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N240JC
NTSB Number LAX04LA140
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 Alan Wilson
Aircraft Model Tandum Air Bike
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number AW002
Certified Max Gross Weight 1230
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Aug 30 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 77
Airframe Hours 270
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Alan Wilson
Aircraft Owner Street Address On file
Aircraft Owner City Elko
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89801
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code EKO
Departure City Elko
Departure State NV
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 820
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code EKO
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Apr 7 2005 5:32PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --