Amateur-built BOBCAT accident near Burlington, Iowa, July 7, 1995
On July 7, 1995 at about 5:30 pm local time, a amateur-built BOBCAT, registered N412LF, was destroyed in an accident near Burlington, Iowa (Burlington Municipal 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
fatigue failure of a copper fuel line at the carburetor ferrule fitting, which resulted in fuel starvation. The proximity of trees was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 1995 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Burlington, Iowa · Burlington Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BOBCAT
- Registration
- N412LF · registry record · serial 412
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The damaged airplane was found at a location that correlated with a right downwind for runway 18. There were indications that it had collided with trees during a forced landing, then impacted the ground. Initial impact was with a 30 foot tree. Investigation did not be determined how long the airplane had been airborne before the accident. There was no damage to the propeller. The fuel tank had ruptured during impact. The engine and flight controls had continuity. Inspection revealed that the copper fuel line from the carburetor to the strainer was broken at the carburetor ferrule fitting, in an area immediately adjacent to a ferrule nut. Examination of the fracture surface revealed fine crack arrest markings, indicative of fatigue. The fatigue cracking originated on the outside surface of the tube.
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: 348 hours in all; 96 in this make and model; 314 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 21, 1995; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 670 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen AE-446760 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 6,702 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from BRL, 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.