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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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May 22, 1986 · Soward Rutan Longeze Rutan LONG · N196MS

Georgetown, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 22, 1986
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Georgetown, TX
Aircraft
Soward Rutan Longeze Rutan LONG
Tail Number
N196MS
Operator
Soward Marvin
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW86FRG19

THE ACFT CRASHED AFTER HITTING TREES ON SHORT FINAL FOLLOWING AN INFLIGHT FIRE AND AN ENG FAILURE. THE ACFT WAS ON IT'S FIRST FLT FOLLOWING AN ENG OVERHAUL AND HAD BEEN AIRBORNE ABOUT 2 MINUTES WHEN GROUND AND AIR OBSERVERS NOTICED SMOKE TRAILING FROM THE ENG COMPARTMENT. THE OBSERVERS INFORMED THE PLT AND HE WAS ATTEMPTING A TURN TO RETURN TO THE ARPT WHEN THE ENG QUIT. HE SUBSEQUENTLY ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. ON SHORT FINAL, THE ACFT STRUCK TREES, IMPACTED IN A STREET AND SKIDDED INTO 2 VEHICLES PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY. THE PLT DIED AS A RESULT OF THE ENSUING FIRE.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT CRASHED AFTER HITTING TREES ON SHORT FINAL FOLLOWING AN INFLIGHT FIRE AND AN ENG FAILURE. THE ACFT WAS ON IT'S FIRST FLT FOLLOWING AN ENG OVERHAUL AND HAD BEEN AIRBORNE ABOUT 2 MINUTES WHEN GROUND AND AIR OBSERVERS NOTICED SMOKE TRAILING FROM THE ENG COMPARTMENT. THE OBSERVERS INFORMED THE PLT AND HE WAS ATTEMPTING A TURN TO RETURN TO THE ARPT WHEN THE ENG QUIT. HE SUBSEQUENTLY ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. ON SHORT FINAL, THE ACFT STRUCK TREES, IMPACTED IN A STREET AND SKIDDED INTO 2 VEHICLES PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY. THE PLT DIED AS A RESULT OF THE ENSUING FIRE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:59 CDT
Nearest AirportGeorgetown (1nm N)
Runway18
Runway Length4100 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireBoth
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftSoward Rutan Longeze Rutan LONG
Tail NumberN196MS
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorSoward Marvin
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-A2B · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 44 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind140° @ 9 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time00:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data