Amateur-built Ultra Pup accident near Rio Vista, California, February 2, 2002
On February 2, 2002 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Ultra Pup, registered N2221X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rio Vista, California (Rio Vista airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 2, 2002 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Rio Vista, California · Rio Vista · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Ultra Pup
- Registration
- N2221X · registry record · serial UP 0062
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experimental, amateur-built airplane landed off-airport following a total loss of engine power on climbout. The pilot reported that during the initial climb after a slow-flight, low pass down the 4,200-foot-long runway and while about 200 feet above ground level, the engine lost all power although the propeller continued to windmill. After the accident, there was about 9 gallons of 100-octane aviation fuel aboard. Earlier the same day he had flown a prior flight leg on the same tank of fuel. The pilot suspected that carburetor icing was the cause of the engine loss of power. The airplane was equipped with a Mosler converted automotive engine, and was equipped with carburetor heat. The carburetor heat control was in the "on" position when engine power was lost. A generic carburetor icing probability chart used by the Safety Board showed the ambient temperature and dew point conditions to have been within the region marked "serious icing - cruise or climb power."
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: 426 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 363 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 10, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 169 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, January 1, 2002; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Mosler VW4 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O88 Rio Vista CA at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 4,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from SAC, 25 miles away
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.
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.