Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Augusta, Kansas 67010
Saturday, June 21, 2008 8:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The engine started overheating. The pilot turned around to return to the airport. On approach at approximately 500 feet, the engine seized. The pilot attempted to make a forced landing in a field, but the airplane landed hard on the terrain, bending the landing gear. It then slid 80 feet and struck a fence. The pilot reported that the thermostat failed, causing the engine to overheat and seize.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Failure of the engine cooling system's thermostat, causing the engine to overheat and seize. Contributing to the accident was the fence.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/21/2008
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 800
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Augusta
Event State KANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 67010
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 374018N
Event Location Longitude 0970440W
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 853 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID ICT
Elevation of weather observation facility 1333
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 15000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
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) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
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 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) 24686
NTSB Notification Source FAA ASW ROC
NTSB Notification Date Jun 21 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 16 2008 8:33AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Wichita, Kansas

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6880L
NTSB Number DEN08LA108
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 Mercer
Aircraft Model Avid Flyer Mk IV
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1115D
Certified Max Gross Weight 1050
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 1
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 Oct 27 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 15
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Kansas Museum of Military History
Aircraft Owner Street Address 135 S. Highway 77
Aircraft Owner City Augusta
Aircraft Owner State KS
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 67010
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 USA
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 --
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 3AU
Departure City Augusta
Departure State KS
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 730
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 3AU
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 16 2008 8:33AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --