Amateur-built TITAN TORNADO II accident near Ashboro, North Carolina, May 22, 1999
On May 22, 1999 at about 6:50 pm local time, a amateur-built TITAN TORNADO II, registered N624RF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ashboro, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Factors were weather conditions favorable for the formation of carburetor ice.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 1999 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Ashboro, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built TITAN TORNADO II TITAN TORN
- Registration
- N624RF · no longer on the register · serial D94582COHK00
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that approximately 24 miles from his destination, he noticed an area of thunderstorm activity between his position and his destination. The pilot reversed course and elected to land at an airport that he had overflown. During the course reversal the engine lost power. He decided to attempt a forced landing on a nearby paved road. During the forced landing, he applied full brakes and tried to stop the airplane before coming to a sharp curve in the road. He stated that he 'dropped a wheel off to the right of the road, hoping to slow down in the grass.' The airplane subsequently departed the road, colliding with a telephone pole and a mailbox, and rolled over on its left side. The post-accident examination of the airplane and the engine assembly failed to disclose a mechanical problem. During the engine examination, fuel was traced from the fuel tank to the carburetor. Several gallons of aviation fuel were recovered from the fuel system. The internal examination of the engine disclosed that the piston tops were clean, and a film of engine oil was on the cylinder walls. Engine drive train rotation was also established. A review of weather data disclosed that weather conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice.
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: 366 hours in all; 112 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 366 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 112 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 11 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582/C-GEAR (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GRD Greenville SC at 5:00 pm
- Destination: 2A5 Liberty NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 8 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from W44, 4 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.
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.