Amateur-built Munk accident near Erie, Colorado, August 5, 2008
On August 5, 2008 at about 3:50 pm local time, a amateur-built Munk, registered N41832, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Erie, Colorado (Erie Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 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 due to carburetor icing. The reason for the loss of aircraft control was not determined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 2008 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Erie, Colorado · Erie Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Munk
- Registration
- N41832 · no longer on the register · serial 1DO1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that at 200 feet above ground level the engine experienced a sudden drop in power to 1,900 to 2,000 rpm. At the same time the engine began to run roughly. The airplane became difficult to control and the pilot experienced four to five deep rolls to angles beyond sixty degrees, and he had difficulty maintaining pitch control. The pilot executed a forced landing in a field resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. An examination of airplane systems revealed no anomalies. Conditions at the time/location of the accident were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power.
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
What happened, in order
- Fuel related during initial climb
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Loss of control in flight during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 21,000 hours in all; 116 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 8,000 as pilot in command; 100 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 1, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 116 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Fairchild 440-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KEIK Erie CO at 3:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 4,700 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 900 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observation at 3:49 pm from BJC, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.