Amateur-built Glasair II SFT accident near Forest, Virginia, October 11, 2024
On October 11, 2024 at about 8:47 pm local time, a 1997 amateur-built Glasair II SFT, registered N952W, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern crosswind) near Forest, Virginia (New London 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 installation of a non-failsafe coupler that resulted in the separation of the throttle cable from the throttle arm and a subsequent partial loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 11, 2024 · about 8:47 pm local time
- Place
- Forest, Virginia · New London Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Glasair II SFT, built 1997
- Registration
- N952W · no longer on the register · serial 2117
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During initial climb on a crosswind leg of the airport traffic pattern, the experimental amateur-built airplane exhibited a partial loss of engine power. The pilot attempted to glide the airplane to an upwind landing, but overshot the runway and landed in a field, resulting in substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that a threaded coupler between the throttle rod end and throttle cable had loosened and disconnected the cable from the throttle arm. This allowed the arm to move toward idle position. Use of a throttle cable coupler was likely a custom installation, and was not provided by the kit manufacturer. The installation provided a means to adjust the throttle cable; however, it also proved to be a single point of failure as there was no means to secure the coupler, such as a cotter pin or safety wire.
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 (partial) during approach (VFR pattern crosswind) defining event
- Landing area overshoot during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel controlling system › Design
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 415 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 275 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 16, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,111 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 1, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D (piston); 804 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OMH Orange VA at 8:01 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,164 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from LYH, 7 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KLYH 112054Z 21005KT 10SM CLR 21/05 A3014
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 5 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Main Wreckage
Photograph 2 – Left Wing Damage
Photograph 3 – Throttle Cable Coupler
Photograph 4 – Throttle Cable
Photograph 5 – Throttle ArmThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 2, 2025. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memoranda for the Record | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | 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.