Amateur-built MERLIN GT accident near Collierville, Tennessee, July 17, 2013
On July 17, 2013 at about 9:35 pm local time, a 1996 amateur-built MERLIN GT, registered N618V, was destroyed in an accident during initial climb near Collierville, Tennessee (Colonial Air Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examination due to postcrash fire damage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 2013 · about 9:35 pm local time
- Place
- Collierville, Tennessee · Colonial Air Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MERLIN GT, built 1996
- Registration
- N618V · no longer on the register · serial 95052
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during the initial climb, when the airplane was about 1/2 mile north of the runway and about 300 to 400 feet above ground level, he heard a loud "pop." The engine subsequently lost all power, and the pilot chose to make a forced landing in a residential area. During the landing, the airplane impacted a tree, and a fire ensued. The pilot and passenger exited the airplane, and it was subsequently consumed by postcrash fire. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined during postaccident examination due to fire damage. Although atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the accumulation of carburetor icing at cruise and glide power, the engine was operating at a high power setting for takeoff.
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 initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,700 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 3,800 as pilot in command; 1,400 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 10, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 197 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 13, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 618 (piston); 197 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 01TN Collierville TN at 9:00 pm
- Destination: 01TN Collierville TN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from OLV, 5 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.