Amateur-built NADIG accident near Franklin, Pennsylvania, July 24, 2010
On July 24, 2010 at about 3:20 pm local time, a amateur-built NADIG, registered N579PN, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Franklin, Pennsylvania (Venango Regional 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
A partial loss of engine power due to the owner’s inadequate fuel system maintenance, which resulted in a collision with trees and subsequent impact with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 2010 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Franklin, Pennsylvania · Venango Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built NADIG
- Registration
- N579PN · no longer on the register · serial 579
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses observed the accident airplane in a left-hand traffic pattern over the airport performing takeoffs and landings. As the pilot was performing the third landing and takeoff, witnesses heard the engine surge before hearing the sound of an impact. The airplane collided with trees before impacting the ground about ¾ mile from the departure end of the runway. Postaccident examination of the wreckage did not reveal any evidence of preimpact malfunction with the airframe or engine controls. The engine examination revealed a blocked carburetor jet and excessive contamination of foreign material in both carburetor float bowls, indicating poor carburetor and fuel system maintenance. Once the blockage was removed from the idle jet the engine started and ran normally. The owner recently purchased the experimental, amateur-built, airplane which had an engine that used automobile fuel.
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 (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Not serviced/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel distribution › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › (general) › Owner/builder
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 936 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Crew member
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,640 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 188 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2010
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FKL Franklin PA
- Destination: FKL Franklin PA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 3:15 pm from FKL, 1 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.