Meyers LITTLE TOOT accident near Roanoke, Texas, October 11, 2012
On October 11, 2012 at about 11:00 pm local time, a 1961 Meyers LITTLE TOOT, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N848Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Roanoke, Texas (Northwest Reginal 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 total loss of engine power due to partially obstructed fuel lines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 11, 2012 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Roanoke, Texas · Northwest Reginal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Meyers LITTLE TOOT, built 1961, amateur-built
- Registration
- N848Z · registry record · serial GW-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on initial takeoff and about 200 feet above ground level, the airplane's engine experienced a total loss of engine power. The airplane was about midfield of the 3,500-foot runway, and the pilot landed on the remaining runway. The pilot could not stop the airplane in the distance remaining, and the airplane departed the end of the runway and collided with two fences before coming to rest inverted. Examination of the airframe revealed that the fuel lines were partially obstructed with sealant that had been used on an in-tank fuel gauge to create a gasket, which was found deteriorated. No further anomalies were detected with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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 takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › (general) › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 258 hours in all; 179 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 212 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 24, 2012
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 557 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 12, 2012; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,317 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 52F Roanoke TX at 11:00 pm
- Destination: 52F Roanoke TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,500 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from KAFW, 6 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.