Amateur-built 701 accident near Spruce Creek, Florida, August 11, 1997
On August 11, 1997 at about 2:30 pm local time, a amateur-built 701, registered N105RC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spruce Creek, Florida (Spruce Creek Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the engine for undetermined reasons, while maneuvering close to the ground. Factors included the soft terrain and the conditions favorable for carburetor icing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 1997 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Spruce Creek, Florida · Spruce Creek Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 701
- Registration
- N105RC · registry record · serial 7-1714
- 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 completed a pre-flight and filled the two cycle, outboard motor engine with Amoco high grade gasoline. After flying around the area for about an hour, the pilot landed the airplane at Spruce Creek Airport. The pilot stated he then taxied back for takeoff and departed for closed pattern work. At an altitude of 50 feet, the pilot stated the engine 'lost about 100 RPM, but was still climbing'. Upon turning downwind at 500 feet, the engine quit. Unable to return to the airport, the pilot landed in a wet field. The airplane sank into the mud upon touchdown, and it burst into flames. The atmospheric conditions were favorable to carburetor icing.
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: 1,100 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Amw (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 44J at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm from DAB, 7 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.