Amateur-built Air Camper accident near Oronogo, Missouri, March 21, 2017
On March 21, 2017 at about 10:00 pm local time, a 2017 amateur-built Air Camper, registered N23RT, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Oronogo, Missouri. 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
A detached throttle cable support block, which resulted in the pilot’s inability to control the throttle and the subsequent stall while maneuvering for an emergency landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 21, 2017 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Oronogo, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Air Camper, built 2017
- Registration
- N23RT · no longer on the register · serial 002
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot of the airplane departed from a grass runway. He stated that after takeoff, the engine was losing power, so he turned to return to the runway. The engine continued to lose power, and as the pilot attempted to line up for landing, the airplane lost airspeed, stalled, and then contacted low trees near the end of the runway, and the right wing contacted the ground. Examination of the wreckage revealed that a wooden throttle cable support block that had been glued to the aircraft structure was found detached. The detachment area did not appear to show signs of impact damage. No other anomalies were noted with the engine, airframe, or fuel distribution system. It is likely that the throttle cable support block came loose in flight, which resulted in the pilot's inability to control the engine throttle and the subsequent stall while maneuvering for an emergency landing.
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 initial climb defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Misc hardware › Fasteners › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,772 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 9, 2017; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,159 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 3,000 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Oronogo MO at 9:59 pm
- Destination: Oronogo MO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from JLN, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on December 31, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot Statement CEN17LA171 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for the Record Engine Examination Findings CEN17LA171 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo Array CEN17LA171 | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.