Amateur-built TITAN TORNADO II accident near Maple Plain, Minnesota, April 2, 2000
On April 2, 2000 at about 3:26 pm local time, a amateur-built TITAN TORNADO II, registered N196KW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Maple Plain, Minnesota (Maple Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the obstructed fuel system filter, the inadequate silicone material the builder used, and the rough and uneven terrain. A factor was that suitable landing terrain was not available.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 2000 · about 3:26 pm local time
- Place
- Maple Plain, Minnesota · Maple Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built TITAN TORNADO II TITAN TORN
- Registration
- N196KW · no longer on the register · serial D96618SOK020
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane sustained substantial damage on contact with terrain during a forced landing after a loss of engine power on takeoff. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The pilot stated, 'I was departing to the east. I climed to about 200 ft. when the engine stoped I turned back for a field. I hit the field and the plane overturned.' The field was rough and uneven. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the hull, wing tips, and tail. The engines fuel filter was found clogged with silicone used as a fuel tank sealant. The plugged filter was a sintered bronze filter. The Rotax installation manual states, 'A suitable fuel filter of 0.15 mm mesh size must be fitted between pump and carburetor. Do not use paper filters. The fuel tank must have a drain cock for condensed water. A screen of 0.3 mm mesh size should be fitted to the fuel line in the tank.' The pilot's safety recommendation was, 'Don't use silicone to seal any type of fuel tanks or exc.'
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 490 hours in all; 325 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MN69 MN at 3:26 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from MSP, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.