Amateur-built ESCAPADE accident near Palatka, Florida, March 6, 2018
On March 6, 2018 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 2007 amateur-built ESCAPADE, registered N45DC, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Palatka, Florida (Palatka Muni - Lt Kay Larkin F 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 interruption of fuel to the engine during final approach, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, and the pilot's subsequent failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 6, 2018 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Palatka, Florida · Palatka Muni - Lt Kay Larkin F · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ESCAPADE NO SERIES, built 2007
- Registration
- N45DC · registry record · serial JAESC0116
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that, while on a 1-mile final approach for landing, about 400 ft above the ground, the engine lost total power. The pilot applied full throttle and enrichened the mixture, but only a momentary return of power occurred before the engine lost power again. The airspeed decreased and the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall and impacted a house and terrain. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures. The left wing fuel tank was empty, the right wing tank contained about 4 gallons of fuel, and the auxiliary tank contained just enough fuel to cover the bottom of the tank; however, there was evidence of fuel spillage at the site and the amount of fuel onboard before the accident could not be determined. Non-volatile memory data recorded during the accident flight revealed a large spike in fuel flow, followed by a 0 rpm reading, which was indicative of a total loss of engine power due to air passing through the fuel line and transducer rather than fuel. It is likely that the fuel flow to the engine was interrupted, but a postaccident examination of the engine and fuel system could not determine what caused the interruption.
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
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR pattern final)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Not specified
- 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
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 435.1 hours in all; 169.1 in this make and model; 15.1 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 337.7 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 8, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 386 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 12, 2017; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,430 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 271 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SGJ St Augustine FL at 5:30 pm
- Destination: 28J Palatka FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 6,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 12 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 6:35 pm from K42J, 22 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
9 documents, released by the NTSB on October 16, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation (FAA Inspector) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation (Pilot in Command) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Engine and Fuel System Factual Report | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Dynon FLIGHTDEK-180 EFIS and Ems Factual Report | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Attachment 1 - Tabular EFIS Csv File | data file | Download |
| 7 | Photo Array | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Memorandum for Record - Transducer Information | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.