Amateur-built Vampire MK-3 accident near Rochester, New York, June 6, 2009
On June 6, 2009 at about 7:25 pm local time, a amateur-built Vampire MK-3, registered N6878D, was substantially damaged in an accident during emergency descent near Rochester, New York (Rochester Intl Airport). 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
A loss of engine power due to oil starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 2009 · about 7:25 pm local time
- Place
- Rochester, New York · Rochester Intl Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Vampire MK-3
- Registration
- N6878D · no longer on the register · serial 17072
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While en-route to his destination, as the airplane climbed through 3,500 feet, the pilot heard a noise coming from the engine and initiated a return to his departure airport. The noise "got louder," and the pilot felt the airplane vibrate during the return. While on final approach for the runway, the engine lost total power. The pilot then retracted the landing gear and prepared for a forced landing to the grass adjacent to the runway. During the landing, the airplane struck a berm, substantially damaging the fuselage. Examination of the engine revealed the oil quantity in the oil sump was less than 2 tablespoons, and no oil was observed in the surrounding area of the engine compartment. The rear bearing in the "hot section" of the turbojet engine exhibited significant scoring, metal fatigue, and erosion. The bearing was completely fused and unable to be rotated.
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 (climb to cruise)
- Loss of engine power (total) during emergency descent 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
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Oil › Fluid level
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (turbine/turboprop) › Turbine section › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,800 hours in all; 230 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 5,900 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 5, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 629 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 17, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 10,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Dehavilland Goblin II (turbojet); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ROC Rochester NY at 7:20 pm
- Destination: GVQ Batavia NY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 6:54 pm from ROC
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.