Amateur-built Pietenpol Aircamper accident near Rose Hill, Kansas, May 9, 2012
On May 9, 2012 at about 5:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Pietenpol Aircamper, registered N728MK, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Rose Hill, Kansas (Cook Airfield). 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 2012 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Rose Hill, Kansas · Cook Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Pietenpol Aircamper
- Registration
- N728MK · registry record · serial DKS 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The amateur-built airplane's engine lost power after takeoff, and the pilot performed an off-airport landing. The airplane struck trees during the landing. A postaccident examination revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The temperature and dew point about the time of the accident were favorable for carburetor icing. Further, the Ford Model A engine that was installed on the airplane is noted for its susceptibility to the formation of carburetor ice. Additionally, the pilot reported his belief that the carburetor heat system of the airplane was ineffective at flight speeds and that the loss of power was due to 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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 24,000 as pilot in command; 12,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 14, 2012
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 0 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 8, 2012; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ford Model A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K50 Rose Hill KS at 5:00 pm
- Destination: K50 Rose Hill KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 1,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from IAB, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN12LA288.