Amateur-built Pazmany PL-2 accident near Wagner, Oklahoma, May 3, 2008
On May 3, 2008 at about 3:15 pm local time, a amateur-built Pazmany PL-2, registered N19HT, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Wagner, Oklahoma (Hefner-Easley Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 3, 2008 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Wagner, Oklahoma · Hefner-Easley Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Pazmany PL-2
- Registration
- N19HT · registry record · serial 125
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that his single-engine experimental airplane experienced a complete loss of engine power on initial climb after takeoff. An attempt to re-start the engine was successful and the pilot elected to return to the airport and land. Shortly after the restart, the engine again experienced a complete loss of power and attempts to restart were unsuccessful. The pilot selected a forced landing to an area of small trees rather than an alternative forced landing in a lake. During the landing the airplane sustained substantial damage and came to rest upright in a nose down attitude. The pilot and his passenger received minor injuries. In a written statement from the passenger the airplane was fueled prior to take off from several hand carried gas cans that were brought to the airport by the pilot. Although the owner/builder of the airplane reported that the airplane regularly used auto gas and that water in the fuel was common, the cause of the loss of the engine power could not be determined.
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 initial climb 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
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Not specified
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › (general) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 49 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 1, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: H68 Wagner OK at 3:15 pm
- Destination: KASD Springdale AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,405 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 14 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 10:14 am from KTQH
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.