Amateur-built LONGEZ accident near Dexter, Kentucky, December 25, 2009
On December 25, 2009 at about 8:55 pm local time, a amateur-built LONGEZ, registered N499CM, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Dexter, Kentucky. 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 loss of engine power due to the chaffing and grounding of the single magneto's ignition lead.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 25, 2009 · about 8:55 pm local time
- Place
- Dexter, Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LONGEZ
- Registration
- N499CM · no longer on the register · serial 4990
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness observed the experimental, amateur built airplane perform a steep bank in an aerobatic-type maneuver. After about 30 seconds, he observed a large explosion as the airplane’s left wing separated during its collision with trees. The airplane continued its descent and impacted the ground inverted between a residential driveway and the row of trees. The airplane was consumed by the subsequent fire. A postaccident examination revealed that the engine’s single magneto P-lead terminal end had made contact with an adjacent fabric covered steel braid oil cooler hose line. Closer examination of the ignition lead disclosed that chaffing had exposed the metal strand layer of the hose. The grounding of the magneto would have rendered the engine unable to produce power due to the lack of an ignition source. The condition of the propeller blades at the wreckage was consistent with the engine not operating at the time of ground 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
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Magneto/distributor › Incorrect service/maintenance
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Ignition power supply › Design
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 925 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 38 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 27, 2009
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: M20 Leitchfield KY at 7:30 pm
- Destination: UCY Union City TN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from KHOP, 40 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.