Keuthan Aircraft Corp Buccaneer II accident near Coden, Alabama, April 24, 2020
On April 24, 2020 at about 3:45 pm local time, a 1994 Keuthan Aircraft Corp Buccaneer II, registered N43310, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Coden, Alabama. 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
A total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing. Contributing to the accident was the lack of a carburetor heat system installed on the engine.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 2020 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Coden, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Keuthan Aircraft Corp Buccaneer II, built 1994
- Registration
- N43310 · registry record · serial B11R
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot, who owned the airplane, was making a local personal flight from his private grass strip. During the first 1 hour 15-minute of flight, the engine performance was normal. Then, while about 800 ft above the ground (agl), the engine began to lose power and rpm started a slow continuous drop. The pilot moved the throttle to full power, but the engine continued to lose power. About 150 ft agl, the engine lost power completely and the pilot attempted to glide to a small island. About 25 ft agl, the right wing stalled and the airplane impacted power lines then terrain. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal engine operation, and the engine was run successfully at various power settings. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the formation of serious carburetor icing at glide (idle) engine power settings. The airplane was not equipped with carburetor heat, contrary to the engine’s installation manual, which stated "operation in climatic conditions, where carburetor icing is likely to occur, a heating system must be fitted."
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
- Fuel related during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Not installed/available
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,100 hours in all; 3.2 in this make and model; 3.2 in the last 90 days; 3.2 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: November 26, 2019
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 246 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 10, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 1,125 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 246 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Foley AL at 1:30 pm
- Destination: NONE Foley AL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 2:40 pm from BFM, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on June 8, 2022. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Witness Statements | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Pilot's Logbook | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Rotax 582 Manual Excerpt | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N43310 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.