Amateur-built CH 750 accident near Manila, Arkansas, August 24, 2017
On August 24, 2017 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 2014 amateur-built CH 750, registered N61LR, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Manila, Arkansas (Manila Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because the airplane was not available for examination.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 2017 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Manila, Arkansas · Manila Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CH 750, built 2014
- Registration
- N61LR · registry record · serial 75-8464
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot stated that he flew the airplane earlier in the day with no engine anomalies noted. During the return flight at 2,000 ft above ground level, the cylinder head temperature (CHT) on one of the engine's cylinders was higher than normal. He reduced engine power and the CHT decreased, then later increased again. He subsequently heard a loud "bang" from the engine, and the airplane and engine both shuddered. He reduced the throttle to idle and made a forced landing in a bean field. During the landing roll, the nose wheel collapsed in the mud and the airplane nosed over. A postaccident exterior examination of the engine did not reveal any abnormalities. The airplane was not made available for examination during the course of the investigation; therefore, the reason for the loss of engine power 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 (total) during approach defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 495 hours in all; 401 in this make and model; 41.9 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 29, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 400 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 16, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 1,440 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ul Power 350i (piston); 360 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DRP Colt AR at 2:30 pm
- Destination: M12 Steele MO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from KBYH, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on May 16, 2018. 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/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 4 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.