Spencer LONG EZE N51EZ

Summary

On 17 July 2000 at about 19:53 local time, a Spencer LONG EZE registered N51EZ was involved in an accident near Farmington, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were 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

17 July 2000 at 19:53

Classification

Accident

Location

Farmington, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Four Corners Regional (FMN)

Coordinates

36.7508, -108.1806

Aircraft

Spencer LONG EZE

Registration

N51EZ

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN00LA132

1 person had minor injuries.

Failure of the coolant recovery system, resulting in overheating of the engine. A factor was the soft ground on which the forced landing was made.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

When the pilot started the engine, he noticed the coolant temperature was 'slightly warm.' During taxi, coolant temperature increased. The pilot used full power for the high density altitude takeoff from runway 25. The engine overheated, the coolant recovery system failed, and steam entered the cockpit. The rear seat passenger was burned on the hip and back, thought there was a fire, and told the pilot to shut down the engine. The airplane was at an altitude of 700 feet. He secured the engine, turned the airplane around, and glided towards the airport. He declared an emergency, and was cleared to land on runway 5. A water hose broke at this time, and the steam dissipated. The airplane landed on airport property but with the nose landing gear retracted. When the airplane contacted soft dirt the main landing gear was torn off, and it skidded 200 feet, crossed a taxiway, and skidded another 200 feet before coming to a halt.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.