Amateur-built Hornet accident near Saint Marys, Georgia, October 1, 2003
On October 1, 2003 at about 10:03 pm local time, a amateur-built Hornet, registered N1928J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Saint Marys, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to improper maintenance and the pilot's failure to maintian airspeed during the attempted forced landing that resulted in a stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 1, 2003 · about 10:03 pm local time
- Place
- Saint Marys, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Hornet
- Registration
- N1928J · no longer on the register · serial 0043
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to witnesses in the area, the airplane had been circling when they heard the engine sputter. The airplane descended nose down behind a stand of trees and they heard a "boom". Several witnesses in the area telephoned the 911-operator and reported the accident. Examination of the wreckage on-scene found the airplane in a nose down attitude. Examination of the engine found one of the two sparkplugs out of its cylinder hanging by the sparkplug wire. During a telephone interview with the brother of the pilot he stated that about 15 to 20 hours prior to the accident they had done some maintenance on the engine including changing the spark plugs. He further stated that he believes that the spark plugs were not tightened adequately which allowed one to "blow out causing the loss of engine 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
Pilot
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 47 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, September 12, 2003; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,045 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Hirth 2703 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Kingsland GA at 10:03 pm
- Destination: PVT Kingsland GA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from SSI, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N1928J the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.