Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wauchula, Florida 33873
Sunday, December 7, 2008 9:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot of the amateur-built airplane stated that while in cruise flight the engine lost all power and that he made an attempt to land in a field. He overshot the field and hit a power line. A cursory examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the fuel tanks were breached and fuel spillage was noted in the surrounding vegetation. A subsequent examination of the engine by the FAA inspector established compression and valvetrain continuity, and no mechanical anomalies were noted.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/7/2008
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 930
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Wauchula
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33873
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 273032N
Event Location Longitude 0815229W
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 1115 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID CHN
Elevation of weather observation facility 106
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.22
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 --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25045
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern Region ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 14 2009 4:38PM
User who most recently changed record grol
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6KD
NTSB Number ERA09CA097
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 MILLER
Aircraft Model LONG EZ/XP
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 001
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name SMITH GARY
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City PATCHOGUE
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 11772-4022
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name SMITH GARY
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City PATCHOGUE
Operator State NY
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 11772-4022
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 CHN
Departure City Wauchula
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 930
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code CHN
Destination City Wauchula
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 17 2009 10:38AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --