Amateur-built 601 HDS accident near Altoona, Pennsylvania, October 17, 2024
On October 17, 2024 at about 7:15 pm local time, a 2002 amateur-built 601 HDS, registered N511JG, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Altoona, Pennsylvania (Altoona/Blair County 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 total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of a deteriorated gascolator gasket. Contributing was the failure of the mechanic to replace the gasket during the most recent condition inspection.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 17, 2024 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Altoona, Pennsylvania · Altoona/Blair County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 601 HDS, built 2002
- Registration
- N511JG · registry record · serial 6-3331
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff, as the airplane was climbing through 300 ft above ground level, the engine misfired, then suddenly stopped producing power. Unable to troubleshoot due to the low altitude, the pilot lowered the nose and attempted a forced landing on the remaining runway. The airplane landed hard, collapsing the landing gear and damaging the wings and airframe. Postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any engine anomalies; however, an examination of the fuel system revealed the fuel gascolator was installed partially outside of the engine compartment, exposing it to the air slipstream. The gascolator exhibited features consistent with a fuel leak. The gascolator bowl was not completely secure to the upper portion of the gascolator and it leaked fuel when touched by hand. The most recent engine maintenance was completed about 10 days before the accident and, although the fuel gascolator gasket was not mentioned in the logbook entry, a fuel system inspection was documented. The condition of the gasket would have warranted replacement. The gascolator bowl gasket was stiff and cracked, which likely allowed fuel to leak out during the flight, starving the engine of fuel. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, which resulted in a loss of engine power and hard landing.
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
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Fuel starvation during initial climb defining event
- Hard landing during landing
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during initial climb
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel distribution › Damaged/degraded
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Scheduled/routine inspection › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 669 hours in all; 334 in this make and model; 5.5 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 669 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 13, 2023
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 222 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 6, 2024; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,230 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C90-12F (piston); 810 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03/2, 5,465 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from AOO
Weather report (METAR): KAOO 171853Z AUTO 36008G17KT 10SM CLR 16/M01 A3026 RMK AO2 SLP253 T01561006
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – View of airplane looking aft showing damage to landing gear and airframe.
Photograph 2 – Right landing gear damage.The 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
5 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 | Pilot Logbook Excerpt | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Records Excerpt | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for Record - FAA Examination Summary | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 3 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.