Amateur-built SE5A REPLICA accident near Luther, Oklahoma, April 15, 2024
On April 15, 2024, a 1977 amateur-built SE5A REPLICA, registered N124BM, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Luther, Oklahoma (Private 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to use carburetor heat, which resulted in fuel starvation during the initial climb, a loss of engine power, and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 2024
- Place
- Luther, Oklahoma · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SE5A REPLICA, built 1977
- Registration
- N124BM · registry record · serial 071013
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings on a private grass airstrip when he experienced a loss of engine power during initial climb. The airplane then descended and impacted terrain near the departure end of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wings. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal airplane operation. Serious carburetor icing conditions at glide power were present at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he did not use carburetor heat during the flight. Carburetor icing most likely formed during the preceding descent for landing and remained for the accident takeoff.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Fuel starvation during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Not specified
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 697 hours in all; 0.8 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 18, 2023
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 189.3 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 6, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 1,333 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 189 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from KTIK, 16 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KTIK 150055Z AUTO 20011KT 10SM CLR 27/17 A2978 RMK AO2 SLP080 T02690174 $
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 CEN24LA158.