Miller Zenair Cricket MC-12 accident near Lee'S Summit, Missouri, June 24, 2006
On June 24, 2006 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Miller Zenair Cricket MC-12, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N36CZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lee'S Summit, Missouri (Lee'S Summit Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while operating in the traffic pattern after the loss of power in one engine, resulting in an inadvertent stall/spin. An additional cause was the loss of engine power in one of the two engines for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 2006 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lee'S Summit, Missouri · Lee'S Summit Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Miller Zenair Cricket MC-12, amateur-built
- Registration
- N36CZ · registry record · serial 12-0036
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The twin engine airplane descended to ground impact following a loss of engine power while operating in the traffic pattern. Witnesses reported that the pilot took off and remained in the traffic pattern. He executed a low pass over the departure runway about 200 feet above ground level. The witnesses reported that during the low approach, the engines did not sound normal and described them as "out of synch" and "missing." One witness stated, "it sounded like one engine was spitting and coughing. . . . [The pilot] turned a left crosswind just south of runway 11/29 and shortly after, it sounded like the engine quit. One engine was still running though." The witnesses stated that the airplane turned to a left crosswind and subsequently left downwind. They noted that the airplane appeared to be descending as it was established on downwind. One witness stated that as the airplane reached a point abeam the airport terminal building on downwind, it "pitched up and snapped hard to the right and then went into a downward spiral." Another witness stated that "as the plane got lower, it was just above the tree line but still in sight. Suddenly the aircraft rolled over and headed straight for the ground." A post accident inspection revealed no anomalies consistent with a pre-impact failure.
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: 1,580 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 47.6 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 1, 2006
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jpx-Pul 212D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LXT Lee'S Summit MO at 12:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,015 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from LXT, 1 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.