781569 INC FX 210 accident near Punta Gorda, Florida, March 9, 2013
On March 9, 2013 at about 4:50 pm local time, a 2006 781569 INC FX 210, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N524VT, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Punta Gorda, Florida (Punta Gorda Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined from the available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 9, 2013 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Punta Gorda, Florida · Punta Gorda Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- 781569 INC FX 210, built 2006, amateur-built
- Registration
- N524VT · no longer on the register · serial FW06060021
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he performed a preflight inspection of the experimental amateur-built airplane and noted that about 25 gallons of fuel remained in both of the airplane's fuel tanks. He subsequently departed for a local sightseeing flight, and, upon returning to the airport traffic pattern, the engine lost all power while the airplane was turning from the base to the final leg of the approach to the runway. The pilot was unable to glide the airplane to the runway, so he landed the airplane in a grass area short of the runway. The airplane's nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined from the available evidence.
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 approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 11,300 as pilot in command; 550 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 5, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 27 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 8, 2013; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: 781569 INC
The flight
- Departed from: PGD Punta Gorda FL at 4:15 pm
- Destination: PGD Punta Gorda FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04, 7,193 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from PGD, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.