Amateur-built Long-EZE accident near St. Charles, Missouri, March 10, 2007
On March 10, 2007 at about 7:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Long-EZE, registered N75FP, was substantially damaged in an accident near St. Charles, Missouri (St Charles County Smartt airport). 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
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor in the accident was the inadvertent lift-off that occurred during the high speed taxi checks.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 10, 2007 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- St. Charles, Missouri · St Charles County Smartt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Long-EZE
- Registration
- N75FP · registry record · serial Rutan 1423
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was substantially damaged upon impact with terrain during an emergency landing. The pilot reported he was conducting high speed taxi-checks when the airplane inadvertently became airborne. The pilot stated he knew that the rotation speed of the airplane was 50 miles per hour (mph). The pilot reported the airplane lifted off at about 50 mph during the high speed taxi checks. The pilot stated he continued the takeoff to avoid going off the end of the runway. The pilot reported flying a normal traffic pattern. The pilot stated that on final approach he saw an airplane on the runway so he decided to perform a 'go-around.' During the 'go-around' the engine lost power. The pilot reported that he checked the fuel shutoff valve, mixture and ignition, but these did not remedy the situation. The airplane impacted a dirt mound near the runway surface. The airplane has a registration certificate but was never issued an airworthiness certificate. The pilot reported the airplane "was not finished."
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 2,500 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 30 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental 0-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SET St. Charles MO at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 6:54 pm from SET
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.