Froelich LANCAIR IV N493K

Summary

On 8 June 2000 at about 14:45 local time, a Froelich LANCAIR IV registered N493K was involved in an accident near Bountiful, Utah, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 June 2000 at 14:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Bountiful, Utah, United States

Coordinates

40.8906, -111.9298

Aircraft

Froelich LANCAIR IV

Registration

N493K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tooele → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN00LA105

1 person had minor injuries.

The loss of power for undetermined reasons and the pilot's unsuccessful remedial action (dive to avoid the power line). Contributing factors were the power line, the tires and the fence.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot descended from 10,500 feet msl (above mean sea level) to 6,500 feet msl in preparation for landing, using 15 inches of manifold pressure. When he advanced the throttle, there was no response from the engine, and the tachometer indicated 1,660 rpm. The destination airport was 7 miles away and the airplane was at 1,300 feet agl, so he decided to make a forced landing in an open field. Unable to glide over power lines ahead, he dove under and clipped one of the lines with the vertical stabilizer. The airplane then struck a pile of tractor tires, went through a fence, and spun around. Postaccident inspection by an FAA inspector revealed fuel in the line leading to the spider. The pilot said he suspected he lost power due to a flooded engine.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.