Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sarasota, Florida 34238
Saturday, February 24, 2007 11:21 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that he performed a preflight inspection of the aircraft and also warmed up the engine before takeoff. After takeoff with a full fuel tank, he orbited the departure point while climbing to 800 feet. He then proceeded away from the departure point and while flying at 800 feet near a major highway (I-75), the engine suddenly lost power. He mentioned to the passenger that he would land there (he actually wanted to land in the median), but she panicked. He then proceeded towards a road and entered a traffic pattern for landing on it. While on the downwind leg for landing on the road, a car pulled onto it. He then opted to land on a bank near a small pond, and a thermal caused the aircraft to descend. He recovered at 30 feet, and told the passenger to hold on. He was lined up to fly between trees and tried to flare but the aircraft impacted the ground. After getting out of the aircraft he helped the passenger out. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor in the accident was the unsuitable terrain encountered by the pilot during the forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/24/2007
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1121
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Sarasota
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 34238
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 271305N
Event Location Longitude 0822700W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KSRQ
Elevation of weather observation facility 30
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.11
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23230
NTSB Notification Source Sarasota County Sheriff Depart
NTSB Notification Date Feb 24 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 31 2008 11:52AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Tampa, Florida

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number None
NTSB Number MIA07LA054
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 Mark Gibson
Aircraft Model BB Trike
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number --
Certified Max Gross Weight 950
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Unregistered
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Adam L. Brewer
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 7808 Andora Drive
Operator City Sarasota
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 34238
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 --
Departure City Sarasota
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1111
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 descent/landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 5 2008 2:41PM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --