Amateur-built QUICK SILVER MX II accident near Tontitown, Arkansas, September 9, 1990
On September 9, 1990 at about 3:30 pm local time, a amateur-built QUICK SILVER MX II, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tontitown, Arkansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A PARTIAL POWER LOSS FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE PILOT'S POOR FLARE DURING THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 1990 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tontitown, Arkansas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built QUICK SILVER MX II QUICK SILV
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, ABOUT 80 FEET AGL, THE ENGINE 'SAGGED TO IDLE' AND THE PILOT WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTORE POWER. THE PILOT REPORTED HE DROPPED THE NOSE IN ORDER TO GAIN AIRSPEED FOR THE FLARE. HE STATED HE BEGAN TO FLARE BUT IMPACTED NOSE WHEEL FIRST, FOLLOWED BY THE BOTTOM OF BOTH SEATS. FAA WAS NOTIFIED BY AN ANONYMOUS PHONE CALLER 16 DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. FAA PERSONNEL INSPECTED THE WRECKAGE BUT IT HAD BEEN MOVED FROM THE SCENE AND MAINTENANCE PERFORMED. THE CAUSE OF THE POWER LOSS IS UNDETERMINED. THE UNREGISTERED AIRPLANE WAS A TWO SEAT VERSION OF AN ULTRALIGHT TYPE VEHICLE, WHICH WEIGHED TOO MUCH TO BE CLASSIFIED AS AN ULTRALIGHT.
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: 135 hours in all; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 114 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 3:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under UNREG 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.