Amateur-built CELERITY accident near Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas, July 19, 2000
On July 19, 2000 at about 1:15 am local time, a amateur-built CELERITY, registered N5104X, was destroyed in an accident near Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of control while maneuvering for an undetermined reason.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 2000 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CELERITY
- Registration
- N5104X · no longer on the register · serial 101
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experimental, amateur-built airplane was observed maneuvering at low altitude around a lake. The airplane made a couple of fly-bys rocking its wings over a boat, and on the last fly-by, witnesses observed the wings 'coming apart.' Other witnesses observed items fly out of the airplane and heard a squealing sound. Subsequently, the airplane nose-dived into the water. As a result of the extensive fragmentation of the wood and fiberglass airplane upon impact with the lake, it was not possible to account for each structure, including flight control surfaces, of the airplane. The only section that remained intact was the vertical fin and rudder. The propeller remained attached to the engine, and the propeller blades were bent aft 90 degrees and exhibited 'S' type bending.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 750 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 911 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1999; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,825 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6M2 at 1:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 220° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket 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.