Amateur-built Quickie accident near Zanesville, Ohio, July 19, 2018
On July 19, 2018 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 2013 amateur-built Quickie, registered N23JH, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Zanesville, Ohio. 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 failure of the exhaust manifold and a loose mixture screw, which resulted in a partial 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
- July 19, 2018 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Zanesville, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Quickie, built 2013
- Registration
- N23JH · registry record · serial 003
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot departed in the experimental, amateur-built airplane for a local photography flight. During the return flight, the engine power dropped more than 1,000 rpm, and the engine monitor indicated about twice the normal fuel flow. The pilot was initially able to maintain airspeed and altitude; however, the rpm subsequently began to decrease further, and the pilot determined that the airplane would not be able to reach the airport. During the subsequent forced landing in a cornfield, the airplane's nose struck the ground, and the airplane then nosed over. Examination of the wreckage revealed a separation of the right exhaust manifold, which was directly beneath the intake breather for the engine. Additionally, a mixture set screw on the carburetor was found loose and extended out, both of which would have resulted in a loss of rpm. Although the weather conditions were conducive to carburetor icing at descent power, the failed exhaust manifold and loose mixture screw likely led to the loss of engine power.
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 enroute defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine exhaust › (general) › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Malfunction
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 586 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 430 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 30, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 99.4 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 4, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 640 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Onan (piston); 99 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ZZV Zanesville OH at 7:30 pm
- Destination: ZZV Zanesville OH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KZZV, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on October 2, 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 and Pilot Statement | PDF, 14 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record – Communication Summary -- Inspector Paul Gillenwater | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Miscellaneous Information - Carburetor Icing Chart | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Weather Reports and Records | 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.