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Accidents · NTSB ERA19LA138 · Final report

Fisher Flying Products Dakota Hawk accident near Mcalpin, Florida, March 26, 2019

On March 26, 2019 at about 9:10 pm local time, a 2002 Fisher Flying Products Dakota Hawk, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N30271, was destroyed in an accident during takeoff near Mcalpin, Florida (Little River airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The pilot's failure to use carburetor heat while operating at idle power in atmospheric conditions conducive to the formation of carburetor ice, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power during takeoff.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
March 26, 2019 · about 9:10 pm local time
Place
Mcalpin, Florida · Little River · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Fisher Flying Products Dakota Hawk, built 2002, amateur-built
Registration
N30271 · no longer on the register · serial DH-26
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The pilot allowed the engine to idle for 8 to 10 minutes while he waited for it to warm up, then completed the engine runup and taxied the airplane for takeoff. He reported that the takeoff run was longer than usual, and because he was preoccupied watching the airspeed, he passed his previously established takeoff abort point. Upon reaching rotation speed, he determined that it was no longer safe to abort the takeoff and continued, although the engine did not seem to be producing normal power. Shortly after clearing trees at the end of the runway, "the left wing dropped," and he lowered the nose to prevent the airplane from stalling. When he determined that he had insufficient altitude to recover, he landed straight ahead in a young pine tree plantation. He managed to safely egress before a postimpact fire destroyed the airplane. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the formation of serious carburetor icing at low engine power settings. It is likely that carburetor ice developed during the time the engine was operating at idle power before takeoff, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power during the takeoff and initial climb.

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

  1. Fuel related during takeoff defining event
  2. Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
  3. Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
  4. Loss of engine power (partial) during takeoff

The NTSB's findings

  • cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
  • cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot

Pilot

  • Certificate: private
  • Ratings: single-engine land
  • Flight time: 87 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 53 as pilot in command
  • Last flight review: October 25, 2017
  • Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: no injuries

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 523.1 hours
  • Last inspection: condition inspection, January 30, 2019
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 4,502 hours total
  • Fire on the ground

The flight

  • Departed from: FL10 Mcalpin FL at 9:00 pm
  • Destination: FL10 Mcalpin FL
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 27, 2,668 ft by 50 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 360° at 6 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 ft
  • Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
  • Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
  • Observation at 9:15 pm from K24J, 13 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

7 documents, released by the NTSB on April 30, 2019. 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.

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.