Amateur-built Mullicoupe accident near Siloam Springs, Arkansas, November 10, 2009
On November 10, 2009 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Mullicoupe, registered N273X, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (aerobatics) near Siloam Springs, Arkansas (Smith Field 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 loss of engine power due to fuel starvation for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 10, 2009 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Siloam Springs, Arkansas · Smith Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Mullicoupe
- Registration
- N273X · registry record · serial 03-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was performing aerobatics in an experimental airplane when the engine quit. The pilot attempted an emergency landing in a field but hit an unseen power line. The airplane lost control, impacted terrain and cartwheeled, causing substantial damage to the engine compartment, wings, aft fuselage and forward portion of upper cabin area. The pilot and the owner both told investigators that the engine quit due to fuel starvation to the engine caused by a vacuum created in the header tank. Investigators were unable to verify the configuration of the fuel system due to postaccident actions performed by the owner and the lack of information provided by the owner.
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
What happened, in order
- Fuel starvation during maneuvering (aerobatics) defining event
- Engine shutdown during maneuvering (aerobatics)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Not specified
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Attain/maintain not possible
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,100 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,700 as pilot in command; 40 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 5, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 334 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 10, 2009
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SLG Siloam Springs AR at 9:30 pm
- Destination: SLG Siloam Springs AR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.