Amateur-built QUICKIE II accident near Houston, Texas, February 28, 1997
On February 28, 1997 at about 1:45 am local time, a amateur-built QUICKIE II, registered N89WL, was destroyed in an accident near Houston, Texas. 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 engine power due to fuel starvation as result of the pilot's improper fuel management. Factors were the pilot's lack of familiarity with the airplane, the dark night, the lack of cockpit lights, and the lack of suitable terrain for the pilot to execute a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 28, 1997 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Houston, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built QUICKIE II
- Registration
- N89WL · registry record · serial 2820
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The homebuilt airplane impacted the ground after experiencing a total loss of engine power while in cruise flight at night. The private pilot had accumulated 8 hours in the airplane since purchasing it on 1/3/97. On the afternoon of the accident, the pilot obtained forecasts for a planned flight to San Angelo. The forecast was for prevailing IMC for the next few days. The pilot topped off the 20 gallon system with 16 gallons of 100LL fuel, executed touch-and-go landings for 30 minutes, and returned to the FBO. The pilot then discussed his plans with an FBO employee, finally telling the employee that he was not going to San Angelo because his airplane was not equipped with instrument or cockpit lights. The pilot later changed his mind and departed on the 299 mile night cross country flight. About 10 minutes later, while leveled at 3,500 feet the pilot reported a loss of engine power. No fuel was found in the header tank, fuel lines or carburetor. A few drops of fuel were found in the fuel filter.
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: 125 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 75 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T41 Laporte TX at 1:35 am
- Destination: SJT San Angelo TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 070° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 am from IAH, 18 miles away
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.