Amateur-built Spacewalker accident near Kingsbury, Texas, April 19, 2008
On April 19, 2008 at about 7:45 pm local time, a amateur-built Spacewalker, registered N8071C, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Kingsbury, Texas (Old Kingsbury Aerodrome airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reason. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 2008 · about 7:45 pm local time · cases in 2008
- Place
- Kingsbury, Texas · Old Kingsbury Aerodrome · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Spacewalker
- Registration
- N8071C · no longer on the register · serial 189
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the private pilot approached the airport, he turned the single-engine airplane away from the airport, in order to land behind another aircraft. As the pilot circled to re-enter base leg to the runway, the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot established a glide and tried to restart the engine. The pilot reported that the engine would turn freely, but did not restart, so he elected to perform a forced landing in a pasture. An examination of the airplane's engine, failed to identify a reason for the loss of engine 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
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › (general) › (general) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,493 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 1,373 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 69 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 1,257 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Kingsbury TX at 7:20 pm
- Destination: Kingsbury TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from KBAZ, 13 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 NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N8071C: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 14 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Old Kingsbury Aerodrome · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,064 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,966 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DFW08CA112.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.