Pzl 101A accident near Spicewood, Texas, March 25, 2007
On March 25, 2007 at about 3:58 pm local time, a Pzl 101A, registered N69NV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spicewood, Texas (Spicewood 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 due to water contamination in the fuel system. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain available 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
- March 25, 2007 · about 3:58 pm local time
- Place
- Spicewood, Texas · Spicewood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pzl 101A
- Registration
- N69NV · registry record · serial 119297
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The vintage experimental airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power shortly after takeoff during the first flight of the day. The 9,000-hour private pilot attempted to execute a left-hand pattern to land opposite direction on the runway. The 285-horsepower 9 cylinder radial engine sustained an additional reduction of power which the pilot was unable to correct. The pilot elected to land the tailwheel-equipped airplane in a group of trees located straight ahead of his flight path. The pilot and passenger were able to exit the airplane unassisted. An examination of the wreckage by the pilot revealed that the auxiliary fuel tank selector lever was in the open position; however, he had insured that the selector was in the closed position during his pre-flight inspection. The pilot suspects that water had contaminated the fuel in the auxiliary tanks resulting in the loss of engine power. The airplane had approximately 80 gallons of fuel aboard at the time of the mishap.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all; 200 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,836 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ivchenko AI-14RC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 88R Spicewood TX
- Destination: 88R TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,600 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KBMQ, 16 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.
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.