Taylor Zodiac 601 accident near San Antonio, Texas, October 21, 2006
On October 21, 2006 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Taylor Zodiac 601, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N143DT, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Antonio, Texas (San Geronimo Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 21, 2006 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- San Antonio, Texas · San Geronimo Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylor Zodiac 601, amateur-built
- Registration
- N143DT · registry record · serial 6-5923
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A 1,900-hour private pilot departed from a 3,000-foot long by 40-foot wide runway, in a single engine experimental airplane on a local flight. Immediately after takeoff, while the airplane was climbing through approximately 300 feet above the ground, the pilot reported experiencing a total loss of engine power. Due to the low altitude, the pilot was only able to make one attempt to restart the engine. The pilot reported that he was unable to start the engine. The airplane sustained structural damage during the forced landing. Fuel was present in the airplane's fuel tanks. After the airplane was recovered, the engine was inspected. The engine examination revealed the engine itself did not sustain any damage. A thumb compression test was conducted on each cylinder, fuel was present in both carburetor bowls, and the electric fuel pump operated and displaced fuel. The engine's electric starter was used to rotate the engine, and ignition spark was observed on each top cylinder sparkplug. No anomalies were found that could have prevented normal engine operation. The reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined. A review of the airplane's cockpit area revealed that no markings or labeling were associated with the fuel shutoff valve. A row of assorted electrical fuses were also found to be unmarked.
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, sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,900 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 552 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 1, 2006
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8TA0 San Antonio TX
- Destination: San Antonio TX
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,600 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from KSKF, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number DFW07LA010.