Phantom Aeronautics X-1 accident near Van Wert, Ohio, September 4, 2019
On September 4, 2019 at about 9:35 pm local time, a 1994 Phantom Aeronautics X-1, registered N111JC, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Van Wert, Ohio (Van Wert County airport). 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
A loss of engine power due to the separation of the carburetor from the intake socket resulting from the improper installation of the intake silencer.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 4, 2019 · about 9:35 pm local time · cases in 2019
- Place
- Van Wert, Ohio · Van Wert County · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Phantom Aeronautics X-1, built 1994
- Registration
- N111JC · registry record · serial 94-0143
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the engine lost power during cruise flight. While troubleshooting, he noticed that the forward carburetor of the dual-carburetor-equipped engine had separated from the intake socket. He subsequently performed a forced landing to a field, during which the left wing spar was substantially damaged. A postaccident examination revealed that the forward intake socket did not conform to an exemplar socket provided by the engine manufacturer. In addition, the intake silencer was not supported except by the carburetors. Maintenance records indicated that the intake silencer was installed before the current owner purchased the airplane. A daily inspection checklist provided by the engine manufacturer included inspection of the sockets and silencer. The in-flight separation of the forward carburetor from the intake socket was likely the result of the improper intake silencer installation, which lacked support other than the forward and aft carburetor intake sockets.
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
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › Air intake › Malfunction other cases naming the engine
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Owner/builder
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 104 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 61 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 16, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,003 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 21, 2019; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 720 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 479 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VNW Van Wert OH at 9:30 pm
- Destination: VNW Van Wert OH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,400 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 9:35 pm from VNW, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 8 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Engine Installation (FAA Photo)
Photo 2 – Carburetor Installation (FAA Photo)
Photo 3 – Forward Carburetor Socket (FAA Photo)
Photo 4 – Air Intake (Airplane Owner Photo)
Photo 5 – Forward Carburetor Socket (Airplane Owner Photo)
Photo 6 – Carburetor Socket (Rotech Flight Safety Photo)
Photo 7 - Carburetor Socket (Rotech Flight Safety Photo)
Photo 8 - Carburetor Socket (Rotech Flight Safety Photo)The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on December 12, 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/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Maintenance Records -- Airframe | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Records -- Engine | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Engine Installation Manual -- Excerpt | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Investigation Photos | PDF, 8 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | Rotax Daily and Pre-flight Checklist | 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.
Other NTSB records under N111JC the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N111JC on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Rotax 503 449 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Van Wert County · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Ohio 1,884 since 1982 · 253 in the last ten years
- Ohio 8,531 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N111JC 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN19LA303.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.