Amateur-built LONG-EZ accident near Roanoke, Texas, May 3, 1997
On May 3, 1997 at about 3:03 pm local time, a amateur-built LONG-EZ, registered N86RG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Roanoke, Texas (Northwest Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain the proper descent rate. A factor was the gascolator's filter screen becoming contaminated with fiber glass residue due to the pilot/mechanic's inadequate maintenance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 3, 1997 · about 3:03 pm local time
- Place
- Roanoke, Texas · Northwest Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LONG-EZ
- Registration
- N86RG · no longer on the register · serial 1975-L
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Approximately 100 feet AGL, after retracting the landing gear, the pilot noticed the fuel pressure was zero. About two to three seconds later the engine lost power, and he reduced the throttle in an attempt to regain fuel pressure. He maintained a 'nose high attitude for a continuous flare' so he wouldn't 'hit the ground' with a high airspeed. He then attempted to lower the landing gear; however, the aircraft landed hard before the landing gear was fully extended. The aircraft bounced across a road and fence, and came to a stop in a field. Examination of the gascolator revealed that it was one quarter full of a gray matter, which was identified by the pilot/builder as fiber glass. About 10 hours prior to the accident, the pilot made a modification to the main landing gear wheel wells. The aircraft has wet wing fuel tanks. The pilot flushed the fuel tanks three times; however, he 'did not shake the wings,' and he thinks that the fuel tank baffling retained some of the fiber glass material. He had not checked the gascolator since making the modification.
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: 1,182 hours in all; 906 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 1,182 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 906 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 26, 1996; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Mazda 13B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 52F at 3:02 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,500 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.