Amateur-built Auriga accident near Rockford, Illinois, August 14, 2020
On August 14, 2020 at about 4:43 pm local time, a 2002 amateur-built Auriga, registered N505JS, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Rockford, Illinois (Cottonwood 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
The total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 2020 · about 4:43 pm local time
- Place
- Rockford, Illinois · Cottonwood Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Auriga, built 2002
- Registration
- N505JS · no longer on the register · serial 005
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting a local flight to evaluate recent modifications made to increase engine cooling when the engine “sputtered and quit” during cruise climb. The pilot was unable to restore engine power and made a forced landing at the departure airport. The airplane touched down about midfield on the wet turf runway and overran the end of the runway despite the pilot using maximum braking. The airplane traveled through the airport perimeter fence and onto a street where it was struck by an automobile. The airplane’s left wing and its rear spar attach point were substantially damaged during the accident. Postaccident examination and engine test runs did not identify any anomalies or failures that would have resulted in a loss of engine power. The airplane had ample fuel available for the flight. Although the auxiliary fuel pump output pressure was below the engine manufacturer’s minimum specification, no anomalies were identified with the engine-driven fuel pump during postaccident engine test runs. The reason for the total loss of engine power could not be determined with the available evidence.
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 enroute (climb to cruise)
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (landing roll)
- Unknown or undetermined during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 2,100 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 28, 2014
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 53.6 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 2, 2020; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1C8 Rockford IL at 4:35 pm
- Destination: 1C8 Rockford IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,540 ft by 260 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 10 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from RFD, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on March 22, 2023. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum of Conversation (Spencer Cull) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Engine Test Run Data | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Logbooks (Excerpts) | PDF, 15 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Plots of Altitude and Speed Based on radar Data | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Processed radar Data | data file | Download |
| 7 | Weather Summary | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Photos | 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.