Amateur-built SKY RAIDER accident near Bethel, Ohio, August 19, 2014
On August 19, 2014 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 2001 amateur-built SKY RAIDER, registered N65692, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Bethel, Ohio (Private 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 pilot's inadvertent aerodynamic stall while maneuvering after a loss of engine power during initial climb. Contributing to the accident was the total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because the investigation could not determine during postaccident examination whether any anomalies existed prior to the accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 2014 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bethel, Ohio · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SKY RAIDER, built 2001
- Registration
- N65692 · no longer on the register · serial 146
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed from a private airstrip that was located on a farm and was bordered by 50-foot-tall trees. He stated that the engine lost power during the initial climb and before the airplane had sufficient altitude to clear the tree line. In an attempt to avoid the trees, the pilot initiated a left turn with the intention of landing in the farm field. The pilot did not recall any further events related to the accident. The airplane's damage was consistent with a nose-low attitude at impact resulting from an aerodynamic stall while maneuvering after a loss of engine power. A postaccident airframe examination did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a preimpact failure or malfunction. An engine examination revealed that the carburetor had separated from the engine, and the carburetor fuel bowl had separated from the carburetor housing. The carburetor fuel bowl retaining spring clip was dislodged from one of the housing casting holes. Because the carburetor was separated from the engine and the retaining clip was dislodged from the housing casting holes, the investigation was unable to determine whether the carburetor bowl retaining clip was fully engaged before impact. No other anomalies were identified with respect to the engine.
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
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- factor Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 469 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 424 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 17, 2014
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 85 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 1, 2014; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 625 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 447 SCDI (piston); 85 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Hamersville OH at 10:00 pm
- Destination: PVT Hamersville OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,600 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 10:14 pm from I69, 12 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.