Titan T-51D accident near Ashtabula, Ohio, July 6, 2021
On July 6, 2021 at about 6:45 pm local time, a 2020 Titan T-51D, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N15180, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Ashtabula, Ohio (Northeast Ohio Regional 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 tripped engine control computer circuit breaker caused by an excessive electrical load on the system, which resulted in a complete loss of engine power during the initial climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 2021 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Ashtabula, Ohio · Northeast Ohio Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Titan T-51D, built 2020, amateur-built
- Registration
- N15180 · registry record · serial M12HV6COHK0180
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The intent of the flight was to perform fuel flow and fuel indicator checks on the newly built airplane while taxiing on the ground; however, they were not able to obtain full engine performance on the ground and the pilot elected to take the airplane into the air. After takeoff, while climbing through 200 ft above ground level (agl), the engine lost power. The operator reported that the engine computer circuit breaker had tripped which resulted in the loss of engine power. The pilot attempted to reset the circuit breaker and restart the engine without success. The airplane landed hard on the runway and the left main landing gear collapsed. The left wing sustained substantial damage. A postaccident examination showed that the oxygen sensors used to tune the engine were left on the engine’s cylinder exhaust pipes during the flight. The sensors drew power from the engine’s control computer. During the initial climb, the increased electrical demand to run the oxygen sensors at maximum engine power exceeded the 15-ampere limit on the engine’s control computer, its circuit breaker to tripped, and the engine lost 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 (total) during initial climb defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine indicating system › (general) › Failure
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 30, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 25, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: General Motors LS376-495 (piston); 4 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 5,900 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 15 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KHZY, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KHZY 061853Z AUTO 27015G19KT 10SM FEW050 31/22 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP158 T03060217
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on September 20, 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, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum of Record, FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum of Record, Airplane Owner | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photographs | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Airplane Owner's Supplemental Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Airplane Data | spreadsheet | Download |
| 7 | Titan T-51 Specifications | PDF, 1 page | 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.