Amateur-built EVANS WE-1 accident near Kimball, Nebraska, March 22, 2012
On March 22, 2012 at about 10:00 pm local time, a amateur-built EVANS WE-1, registered N5936, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Kimball, Nebraska (Kimball Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because a postaccident examination of the airplane and engine was not performed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 22, 2012 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kimball, Nebraska · Kimball Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built EVANS WE-1
- Registration
- N5936 · no longer on the register · serial V1601
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the airplane's engine lost power about 50 feet above the ground after takeoff. He attempted to return to the airport, but the airplane impacted the ground. The airplane was powered by a converted Volkswagen automobile engine, which used a Harley Davidson motorcycle carburetor and did not have provisions for carburetor heat. The temperature and dew point at the time of the accident were 17 degrees Celsius and 0 degrees Celsius, respectively. According to carburetor probability icing charts, the airplane was operating in a region conducive to the formation of carburetor ice at glide or cruise power settings; however, the airplane was operating at a takeoff power setting. Due to the late reporting of the accident, no on-scene examination was performed. The pilot did not provide any additional information, so it could not be determined what caused the loss of engine power.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 17 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,000 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 20, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 650 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen CONVERSION (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IBM Kimball NE at 10:00 pm
- Destination: IBM Kimball NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 6,199 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 9 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 10:05 pm from IBM
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.