Amateur-built SPEZIO II accident near Newville, Pennsylvania, December 18, 2008
On December 18, 2008 at about 6:00 pm local time, a amateur-built SPEZIO II, registered N66JH, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Newville, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to carburetor ice as a result of the pilot's delayed use of carburetor heat.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 18, 2008 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Newville, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SPEZIO II
- Registration
- N66JH · registry record · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While the airplane was in level flight about 1,000 feet above the ground, the pilot added carburetor heat. The engine immediately began to run roughly, so the pilot attempted to add power, and the engine then lost power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a turnpike; however, as he flared the airplane for the landing, it impacted the rear of a moving tractor trailer before dropping to the ground. The landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over a guard rail, which caught part of the airplane's landing gear. No preaccident mechanical anomalies were noted, and when tested, the engine started easily. Ambient temperature and dew point conditions were conducive to serious carburetor icing.
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
- Fuel related during enroute
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Ground vehicle › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine controls › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 1, 2008
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 30 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 1, 2008; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CZY Endicott NY
- Destination: N94 Carlisle PA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from CXY, 35 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.