Amateur-built TITAN TORNADO 1 accident near Wild Rose, Wisconsin, August 3, 2013
On August 3, 2013 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built TITAN TORNADO 1, registered N70786, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Wild Rose, Wisconsin (Wild Rose Idlewild 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
The improperly secured spark plug, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 2013 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Wild Rose, Wisconsin · Wild Rose Idlewild Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built TITAN TORNADO 1
- Registration
- N70786 · no longer on the register · serial T98503S0H0315
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff, the airplane's engine lost power. The airplane hit trees and then terrain, resulting in substantial damage. A postaccident examination revealed that one spark plug and its lead assembly had separated from its cylinder. Examination of the threads and the orifice on the cylinder revealed no anomalies. Further examination revealed that the remaining spark plugs were loose but had not separated from their respective cylinders. It is likely that the spark plug that had become separated was also loose and not properly secured during maintenance. Examination of the airplane's engine, airframe, and systems revealed no additional anomalies 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 initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Spark plugs/igniters › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › (general) › (general) › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 89 hours in all; 0.1 in this make and model
- Last flight review: August 1, 2013
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 166 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 31, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 750 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 166 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W23 Wild Rose WI at 4:30 pm
- Destination: W23 Wild Rose WI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from Y50, 10 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.