Slipstream Revelation accident near Delphi, Indiana, September 17, 2022
On September 17, 2022 at about 10:45 pm local time, a 1998 Slipstream Revelation, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered UNREG, was destroyed in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Delphi, Indiana (Delphi Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 carburetor icing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 2022 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Delphi, Indiana · Delphi Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Slipstream Revelation, built 1998, amateur-built
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial -
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he and his passenger were completing a personal flight in an unregistered, experimental airplane that was not equipped with carburetor heat. They departed and flew the traffic about 800 to 1,000 ft above ground level (agl) and the engine was operating about 6,000 rpm. He turned on the left base leg and decreased throttle to about 4,000 rpm, and descended to about 600 ft, when the engine lost power. He stated that the engine acted the same as the last time he experienced carburetor icing. The airplane descended quickly, and he did not flare properly, which resulted in a stall, and subsequent impact with the runway. The pilot and passenger egressed without further incident and a post impact fire consumed a majority of the wreckage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation and added that the loss of power was due to carburetor ice. Due to the post impact fire, an examination was not completed. The airplane was operating in an environment that was conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power settings.
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 approach (VFR pattern final)
- Fuel related during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR pattern final)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Flight time: 735 hours in all; 735 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 100 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 DCDI (piston); 100 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 4,001 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from KLAF, 14 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KLAF 172354Z 19005KT 10SM CLR 25/16 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP166 T02500156 10289 20250 56005
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on November 21, 2022. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Saib CE-09-35 Carburetor Icing Prevention | 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 UNREG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.