Amateur-built AVENTURA II accident near Rockledge, Florida, December 9, 1996
On December 9, 1996 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built AVENTURA II, registered N32913, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rockledge, Florida (Rockledge airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 9, 1996 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Rockledge, Florida · Rockledge · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AVENTURA II AVENTURA I
- Registration
- N32913 · no longer on the register · serial AP2A0001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Before takeoff, the pilot completed a preflight inspection and engine runup, and reported that all systems were normal. As the airplane climbed through 400 feet, following the takeoff, the engine lost power. When attempts by the pilot to restart the engine failed, he selected a forced landing area for an emergency landing. During the landing roll to a road, the pilot realized that he could not negotiate a turn in the road and elected to continue into a rock quarry below the level of the road surface. The examination of the airplane and the two stroke engine assembly at the accident site failed to disclose a mechanical problem. The examination confirmed that all engine accessories and sub-systems were capable of normal operation.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,494 hours in all; 309 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 4,489 as pilot in command; 1,735 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 363 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 23, 1996; 133 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,100 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:48 pm from MLB, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.