Amateur-built EUROPA MONO-WHEEL accident near Fernandina Bch, Florida, February 21, 1998
On February 21, 1998 at about 4:13 pm local time, a amateur-built EUROPA MONO-WHEEL, registered N6173K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fernandina Bch, Florida (Fernandina Beach 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
a partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 21, 1998 · about 4:13 pm local time
- Place
- Fernandina Bch, Florida · Fernandina Beach · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built EUROPA MONO-WHEEL EUROPA MON
- Registration
- N6173K · no longer on the register · serial 12A
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness stated that the airplane had to be restarted several times during taxi to runway 8. The witness also stated that the airplane departed runway 8 and climbed to about 200 feet above ground level (AGL). He said the airplane then turned left 70 degrees and crashed onto runway 4. The witness stated the engine thrust was decreasing. According to an FAA inspector, the airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. The pilot then stalled the airplane. The inspector also stated the pilot had plenty of runway ahead of him as well as a grassy area available for landing.
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: 300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 55J at 4:12 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:15 pm from JAX
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.