Ostroth Thane L COZY MK IV N656TE

Summary

On 15 January 2024 at about 03:05 local time, a Ostroth Thane L COZY MK IV registered N656TE was involved in an accident near Half Moon Bay, California, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 January 2024 at 03:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Half Moon Bay, California, United States

Nearest airport

Half Moon Bay (HAF)

Coordinates

37.5018, -122.5105

Aircraft

Ostroth Thane L COZY MK IV

Registration

N656TE

Category

Airplane

Year built

2007

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Hayward

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

WPR24FA073

4 people died.

The airplane’s impact with the ocean for undetermined reasons after departing into night, instrument meteorological conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed under visual flight rules while instrument meteorological conditions were reported at the airport, with a broken cloud layer at 300 ft above ground level (agl). A witness who was dining outside north of the departure airport initially heard the airplane and saw it shortly after. The witness said that the sound of the engine was similar to the sound of coughing and that the airplane appeared to increase in speed while it dipped and turned. The sound of the engine then “cut out,” and the airplane appeared to have banked toward the shoreline. Shortly thereafter the witness lost sight of the airplane’s lights. Flight track data showed that the airplane departed to the north and entered a left turn just beyond the departure end of the runway. The data showed that the airplane had ascended to a maximum altitude of 250 ft mean sea level (msl), with groundspeed fluctuating between 87 and 91 knots. The last data point was recorded about 4,900 ft north of where wreckage was observed floating in the Pacific Ocean. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel lines attached to the fuel flow divider remained attached but were loose when moved with a wrench. No evidence of fuel staining or leaks was observed. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no other evidence of a potential mechanical malfunction that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.