Pietenpol AIRCAMPER accident near Newark, Ohio, August 10, 2019
On August 10, 2019 at about 1:00 pm local time, a 2019 Pietenpol AIRCAMPER, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N899DA, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Newark, Ohio (Newark-Heath airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The engine’s failure to produce full power for reasons that could not be determined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 2019 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Newark, Ohio · Newark-Heath · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pietenpol AIRCAMPER, built 2019, amateur-built · all AIRCAMPERs on the register
- Registration
- N899DA · registry record · serial 061791AAF618
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Just before takeoff on the first flight in the plans-built airplane, the pilot taxied the airplane and ran the engine to bring it up to operating temperature. After takeoff, the airplane climbed out about 50 mph and the pilot lowered the nose to increase the airspeed to 55 mph. He stated that the airplane seemed to be "behind the power curve" and did not "seem to be producing enough power." Sound from a video of the accident flight showed engine power was consistent throughout the flight. According to the pilot, about 150 to 200 ft above ground level, the pilot prepared for an off-field landing in a corn field when the wing tips "started to stall" and then the "left wing stalled." The pilot was unable to recover from the stall and the airplane impacted terrain; both wings separated during impact. The pilot stated that it was likely that the timing slipped or that the mixture on the carburetor needed adjustment, but he did not know the reason for the low engine power on takeoff. A review of meteorological data revealed that the temperature and dew point at the time and location of the accident were conducive for serious icing at glide power. While carburetor icing may have built up during the extended ground run, the sound of the engine during the takeoff did not indicate a loss of power. Investigators were not able to determine the reason for the low engine rpm at takeoff because impact damage to the engine precluded functional testing.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 722.2 hours in all; 2.2 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2.2 in the last 30 days; 627.2 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 23, 2018
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 0 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 19, 2019; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Corvair (piston); 1 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VTA Newark OH at 1:00 pm
- Destination: VTA Newark OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,649 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 12:54 pm from KVTA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN19LA262.