Amateur-built CANARD C3A accident near Henderson, Nevada, October 2, 1999
On October 2, 1999 at about 3:45 pm local time, a amateur-built CANARD C3A, registered N4526W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Henderson, Nevada (Henderson 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
A partial loss of engine power for undetermined nonmechanical reasons. A contributing factor was the rough nature of the terrain used for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 2, 1999 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Henderson, Nevada · Henderson · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CANARD C3A
- Registration
- N4526W · no longer on the register · serial 01
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
About 100 feet above ground level during initial climb, the experimental airplane's engine began vibrating, sputtering, and losing power. The pilot adjusted the mixture and throttle controls, but was unable to regain sufficient rpm to sustain flight. The pilot made a forced landing on rough desert terrain, about 1 mile from the departure airport. During the subsequent engine examination, no evidence of case or cylinder damage was noted. Oil was found on the dipstick, the carburetor was intact, and the throttle control was secure. The reason for the partial loss of engine power was not determined.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,218 hours in all; 638 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 638 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 14, 1999; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Revmaster 2100D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L15 at 3:42 pm
- Destination: L15
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from L15, 1 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.