Amateur-built Baslee DR-1 accident near Macon, Georgia, November 24, 2006
On November 24, 2006 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Baslee DR-1, registered N8092L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Macon, Georgia (Macon Downtown Airport). 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/owner's improper design change which resulted in a blocked carburetor inlet and a loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 24, 2006 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Macon, Georgia · Macon Downtown Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Baslee DR-1
- Registration
- N8092L · registry record · serial F106AB
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he lined up on runway 10 for takeoff, applied full power, and climbed the airplane straight ahead to approximately 500 feet above ground level (agl) and turned crosswind. While on crosswind, he noticed the power was diminishing. He turned downwind, still at about 500 ft agl. At about three-fourths of the way on downwind, he turned the airplane toward runway 10. At this point, he stated that he was not going to be able to put it on the runway. He was losing altitude quickly and noticed that the only place to put down was in the woods just northwest of the airport. Examination of the airplane by an FAA Inspector found that the pilot had installed a sheet metal pan with baffles around and over the engine cylinders. The baffles directed ram air over the cylinders for cooling. However, by doing so he inadvertently blocked the carburetor from ram air which resulted in 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
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 200 hours in all; 1 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 1, 2006; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen Conversion (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MAC Macon GA at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 3:43 pm from MCN
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.
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.