Espinal VELOCITY JET 900 N289AE

Summary

On 24 May 2006 at about 22:10 local time, a Espinal VELOCITY JET 900 registered N289AE was involved in an accident near Millbrook, New York, 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

24 May 2006 at 22:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Millbrook, New York, United States

Coordinates

41.7044, -73.7361

Aircraft

Espinal VELOCITY JET 900

Registration

N289AE

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Millbrook → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC06CA118

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot/owner's inadequate preflight which resulted in a partial loss of engine power due to a clogged fuel vent.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot/owner/builder departed on his first solo flight in the homebuilt, jet-powered, Velocity Jet 900 airplane with no jet airplane experience or training. After takeoff, the airplane climbed above traffic pattern altitude at "4 to 5 thousand feet-per-minute" and accelerated above 200 knots on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. The pilot reduced power to flight idle to descend and complete the traffic pattern for landing. The airplane was "low" on the base leg of the pattern, the pilot advanced the throttle, the engine did not accelerate, but continued to run at the flight idle setting. As the airplane approached the runway, "I got too slow, lost control, and crashed 100 feet short of the runway." Examination of the wreckage revealed the fuel tank vent was clogged with dirt and insect remains. There were no other deficiencies noted.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.