Amateur-built SACKMAN SPECIAL accident near Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, August 11, 2012
On August 11, 2012 at about 6:30 pm local time, a amateur-built SACKMAN SPECIAL, registered N4760R, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Ste. Genevieve, Missouri (Ste Genevieve Flying Club Arpt airport). 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 during a low level maneuver due to oil starvation for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examination.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 2012 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ste. Genevieve, Missouri · Ste Genevieve Flying Club Arpt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SACKMAN SPECIAL
- Registration
- N4760R · registry record · serial 003
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot flew his amateur-built airplane on a local flight, after which he returned to the departure airport and performed a low approach down the departure runway. At midfield, the pilot applied full power, started a climb, and the engine began to lose power. The pilot indicated that he pushed the control yoke forward to begin a descent when the airplane was about 50 feet above ground level and started a right turn to return to the runway. The airplane descended and impacted a cornfield near the runway threshold. The airplane nosed over during the contact with the corn and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the wings. The loss of engine power was due to a loss of oil; however, the reason for the loss of oil could not be determined.
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 (partial) during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Oil › Not specified
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 319 hours in all; 291 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 293 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 491.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 8, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Vw 1915 cc (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6MO2 Ste. Genevieve MO
- Destination: 6MO2 Ste Genevieve MO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 6:35 pm from SAR, 18 miles away
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.