Amateur-built GLASAIR II accident near Chattanooga, Tennessee, July 17, 2019
On July 17, 2019 at about 8:40 pm local time, a 2002 amateur-built GLASAIR II, registered CGAFT, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Chattanooga, Tennessee. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to switch to the secondary electrical system after the primary electrical system failed for unknown reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 2019 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Chattanooga, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GLASAIR II FT, built 2002
- Registration
- CGAFT · no longer on the register · serial 1063
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While enroute, during a cross-country flight, the experimental amateur-built airplane experienced a complete failure of the electrical system, which resulted in a complete loss of engine power. The pilot subsequently made an off-airport landing in a meadow, however during final approach, the airplane aerodynamically stalled, landed hard, bounced, and nosed over. The airplane was equipped with a backup electrical circuit system which was labeled the essential bus. The pilot reported that during the accident sequence he failed to switch the power supply to the backup power. It is likely that the primary electrical system that the pilot installed failed for unknown reasons, and if he had switched to the secondary electrical system, the airplane would have likely restored electrical power.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Electrical system malf/failure during enroute defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during emergency descent
- Loss of control in flight during landing
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Engine out control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Electrical power system › (general) › Failure
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Sloped/uneven terrain › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: foreign licence, private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,164 hours in all; 1,015 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 1,096 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 906.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 12, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 1,866 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RZR Cleveland TN at 8:20 pm
- Destination: FLD Fond Du Lac WI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 11 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; scat at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KCQN, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
12 documents, released by the NTSB on November 4, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Global Positioning System Factual Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Primary Flight Display Factual Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Solenoid Tests | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Pilot Roc | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Wiring Schematic Submitted by Owner | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Wiring Backup Circuits (Vpx) | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Electronic Ignition Product Documentation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Aircraft Logs | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 10 | FAA E-mail Roc | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 11 | Panel Pictures | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 12 | Accident Pictures | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.