Amateur-built FIRESTAR accident near High Point, North Carolina, November 25, 1994
On November 25, 1994 at about 8:30 pm local time, a amateur-built FIRESTAR (ultralight), registered N432JR, was substantially damaged in an accident near High Point, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INADVERTENT DEACTIVATION OF THE ENGINE IGNITION SYSTEM BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN 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 25, 1994 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- High Point, North Carolina
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built FIRESTAR
- Registration
- N432JR · no longer on the register · serial BHHW-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS FLYING AT 2,000 FEET MSL WHEN HE REACHED FOR A MAP. AS HE DID THIS, HE INADVERTENTLY SHUT OFF THE ENGINE IGNITION TOGGLE SWITCH. THE ENGINE QUIT, AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE PRIOR TO A COLLISION WITH TREES. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WITH THE AIRCRAFT, AND NONE WAS FOUND DURING THE EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 356 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 7, 1994; 5 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 377 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W88 Greensboro NC at 7:50 pm
- Destination: NC18 Waxhaw NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from GSO, 10 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 N432JR 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.