Amateur-built Cozy MK IV accident near Midlothian, Texas, July 24, 2008
On July 24, 2008 at about 2:15 pm local time, a amateur-built Cozy MK IV, registered N500K, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Midlothian, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the wall of the rock quarry.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 2008 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Midlothian, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Cozy MK IV
- Registration
- N500K · no longer on the register · serial 0163
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experimental airplane flew through a 100 foot deep rock quarry at high speed at an estimated altitude of 20 to 30 feet above ground level. One witness said he waved at the airplane as it flew directly toward him then banked away from his bulldozer and pitched up to avoid a rock pile. The airplane then collided with the quarry wall about 20 feet from the floor of the quarry. Examination of the propeller blades revealed damage that was consistent with engine power at the time of impact.
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
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Sloped/uneven › Response/compensation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › (general) › (general) › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,700 hours in all; 81 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 13, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 81 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Franklin 6A-350-C1R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F54 Arlington TX at 12:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:05 pm from JWY, 5 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.