Amateur-built FEW TF-51 accident near Summersville, Missouri, April 16, 2002
On April 16, 2002 at about 7:00 pm local time, a amateur-built FEW TF-51, registered N51HL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Summersville, Missouri. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The unsuitable terrain encountered during the power off landing. The loss of engine power for unknown reasons was a contributing factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 2002 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Summersville, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built FEW TF-51
- Registration
- N51HL · registry record · serial 23
- 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 damaged during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power. The pilot stated that 1.5 hours into his flight the engine, "...developed a slight miss." Five minutes later the engine suffered a total loss of engine power. The pilot executed a forced landing but the airplane landed short of the intended landing area. The airplane sustained damage due to impact with trees and what the pilot stated as a, "...rough off airport landing." No anomalies were found with respect to the airframe, engine, or systems that could be identified as existing prior to impact.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 54 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 14, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: General Motors HO-350 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ROG Rogers AR at 5:00 pm
- Destination: MVN Mount Vernon IL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 21 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from KTBN, 45 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.