Amateur-built FLY BABY 1A accident near Conneaut, Ohio, July 12, 1993
On July 12, 1993 at about 11:01 pm local time, a amateur-built FLY BABY 1A, registered N4295X, was destroyed in an accident near Conneaut, Ohio. 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
OPERATIONAL FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAGNETO'S HIGH TENSION WIRING DUE TO GREASE/CORROSION, WHICH RESULTED IN A PROGRESSIVE POWER LOSS AND SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 1993 · about 11:01 pm local time
- Place
- Conneaut, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built FLY BABY 1A FLY BABY 1
- Registration
- N4295X · registry record · serial 1924
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN CRUISE, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS OVER A FIELD AND DECIDED TO CIRCLE AND LAND IN THE FIELD. THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE SECOND TIME HE WENT AROUND THE FIELD, DOWNWIND, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A BERM ON THE SIDE OF A ROAD JUST SHORT OF THE FIELD. WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT STATED THAT PRIOR TO THE AIRPLANE IMPACTING THE BERM, THE ENGINE WAS 'MISSING.' POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME DID NOT REVEAL ANY ANOMALIES. THE COCKPIT MAGNETO SWITCH WAS SELECTED TO THE LEFT MAGNETO. THE ENGINE WAS INSPECTED AND THE LEFT MAGNETO HIGH TENSION LEAD WAS FOUND CORRODED WITH GEAR GREASE CAUSING INTERMITTENT ARCING. SPARK PLUGS ON THE NUMBER 2 AND 3 CYLINDERS WERE FOUND TO BE SOOTY AND THE SPARK PLUGS ON THE NUMBER 1 AND 4 CYLINDERS APPEARED 'NOT TO BE FIRING.' THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT LEAVE THE MAGNETO SWITCHED TO THE 'LEFT' POSITION AND THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN MOVED DURING THE IMPACT SEQUENCE.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 475 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 439 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 24 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 28, 1993; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 975 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 4AC 176B2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7G2 Jefferson OH at 8:30 pm
- Destination: 7G2
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from ERI, 35 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.