Amateur-built Long-Ez accident near Huntsville, Texas, November 25, 2004
On November 25, 2004 at about 10:25 pm local time, a amateur-built Long-Ez, registered N234BW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Huntsville, Texas. 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
Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the unsuitable terrain for landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 25, 2004 · about 10:25 pm local time
- Place
- Huntsville, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Long-Ez
- Registration
- N234BW · registry record · serial 240
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After departure, the 587-hour pilot turned off the electric fuel pump and climbed to approximately 5,500 feet. A short time later, the pilot started a descent, and while descending through 4,500 feet, the engine abruptly stopped producing power. The pilot turned on the electric boost pump, verified the ignition switch was in the "both" position, and attempted an engine restart. When the engine failed to restart, the pilot elected to leave the nose gear retracted and land in a muddy field at the Ellis Farm Penitentiary near Huntsville, Texas. Shortly after touchdown, the airplane nosed over, coming to rest in an inverted position.
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: 587 hours in all; 130 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 587 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 28, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,499 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 11, 2004; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LFK Lufkin TX at 10:10 pm
- Destination: CFD Bryan TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from UTS, 15 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.