Amateur-built CHALLENGER II accident near Port Orange, Florida, August 4, 2023
On August 4, 2023 at about 2:30 pm local time, a 2009 amateur-built CHALLENGER II, registered N906WV, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Port Orange, Florida (Spruce Creek Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power due to an out-of-temperature seizure of the PTO cylinder.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 2023 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Port Orange, Florida · Spruce Creek Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CHALLENGER II, built 2009
- Registration
- N906WV · no longer on the register · serial CH2-1008-2852
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported the engine lost power shortly after takeoff, while at an altitude of about 900 ft. The pilot established best glide speed and attempted to restart the engine several times; however, the engine did not regain power. The pilot then performed a forced landing. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted a tree followed by terrain and sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Postaccident examination of the two-stroke engine revealed that the power take-off (PTO) cylinder had significant scoring along the cylinder walls, which was consistent with the cylinder being subjected to an out-of-temperature seizure. No further anomalies or mechanical failures were observed that would have prevented normal operation. Given that the visible signatures of a hot seizure and a cold seizure of a cylinder are the same, the type of seizure could not be determined with the available information.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,334.5 hours in all; 130.9 in this make and model; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 27, 2021
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 543 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 10, 2023; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,020 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582UL (piston); 50 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7FL6 Port Orange FL at 2:27 pm
- Destination: DED Deland FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from DAB, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KDAB 041453Z 16006KT 10SM SCT030 SCT110 31/23 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP160 T03110233 53005 $
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 NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.