Amateur-built BREEZY RLU-1 accident near Groveton, Texas, April 19, 2008
On April 19, 2008 at about 6:00 pm local time, a amateur-built BREEZY RLU-1, registered N3921, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Groveton, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during the forced landing. Contributing factors were the non-suitable terrain for the forced landing and the pilot's lack of experience in the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 2008 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Groveton, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BREEZY RLU-1
- Registration
- N3921 · no longer on the register · serial EL2-2
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While in cruise flight the experimental airplane’s single engine lost complete power. Following an unsuccessful engine restart attempt, the pilot with one hour in airplane make and model, elected to perform a forced landing to a clearing. While about 50 feet above the ground, the airplane stalled and entered a spin. Moments later the airplane impacted the ground. The airplane came to rest nose pointing upward with the pilot elevated about eight feet above the ground. The pilot released his seatbelt, fell to the ground, and was able to pull himself away from the wreckage. There was no post crash fire. An airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanic examined the engine for the IIC. The examination did not reveal the cause of 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 enroute defining event
- Loss of control in flight during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › (general) › (general) › Failure
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience w/ equipment › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 809 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 648 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 15, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 638 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 16, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6R3 Cleveland TX at 6:00 pm
- Destination: CRS Corsicana TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from LFK, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.