Amateur-built T-Bird II accident near Keymar, Maryland, August 8, 2009
On August 8, 2009 at about 11:41 am local time, a amateur-built T-Bird II, registered N90458, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Keymar, Maryland (Keymar Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed following a total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 2009 · about 11:41 am local time
- Place
- Keymar, Maryland · Keymar Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built T-Bird II
- Registration
- N90458 · no longer on the register · serial 92900
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Several witnesses observed the experimental, amateur-built airplane in a spin before they lost sight of it when it descended behind a row of trees. Another witness, who heard the engine but did not see the airplane in flight, stated that it sounded like it was "overloaded and struggling." Examination of the airframe revealed severe corrosion on the airframe structural tubing; however, there was no evidence of preimpact mechanical failure. Examination of the two-cylinder engine revealed that the aft cylinder, and the carburetor bowl that supplied fuel to that cylinder, were devoid of fuel, indicative of fuel starvation. Water and particulate contamination was found throughout the fuel system. Fuel sample analysis revealed that the fuel was 92 octane and contained about 9 percent ethanol. The contamination levels were sufficient to result in fuel starvation to one cylinder, and resulted in a complete loss of engine power. The complete loss of power in the rear-mounted engine at low altitude resulted in a pitch-up of the airplane, a reduction of airspeed, and an aerodynamic stall and spin from which the pilot could not recover. About 4 months prior to the accident the engine manufacturer issued guidance allowing for up to 10 percent ethanol blended fuels to be used; however, the owners were urged to confirm with the airframe manufacturer that ethanol blended fuels are allowed. No written guidance by the airframe manufacturer was located concerning the use of ethanol and no entry was located in the airplane maintenance record indicating that any change had been made to the airplane. Postmortem toxicology testing on the pilot was consistent with the use of a short-acting sleep aid the night prior to the accident and recent use of an over-the-counter antihistamine with impairing effects, likely for treatment of seasonal allergy symptoms. The sleep aid was unlikely to have resulted in impairment on the day of the accident, but the antihistamine could have adversely affected the pilot’s actions in response to the loss of power. The pilot did not possess a current airman medical certificate.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during emergency descent
- Fuel contamination during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Record › keeping › Aircraft/maintenance logs › Owner/builder
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Physical › Impairment/incapacitation › OTC medication › Pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid condition
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 78 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 ULDCDI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MD42 Keymar MD at 11:40 am
- Destination: MD42 Keymar MD
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 11:48 am from FDK, 15 miles away
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.