Amateur-built Spacewalker II accident near Irvine, California, August 10, 2002
On August 10, 2002 at about 6:09 pm local time, a amateur-built Spacewalker II, registered N185MD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Irvine, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of engine power due to an exhaust system leak and vapor lock.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 2002 · about 6:09 pm local time
- Place
- Irvine, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Spacewalker II
- Registration
- N185MD · no longer on the register · serial SW1996-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Engine power was lost during cruise flight, and the aircraft collided with obstacles during a forced landing in a parking area. An examination of the experimental airplane revealed a crack in the left exhaust stack. Hot exhaust gas likely flowed over a fuel line and the carburetor resulting in vapor lock.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 550 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 473 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 14, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 132 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 28, 2001; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CNO Chino CA at 5:30 pm
- Destination: CNO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 22,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from SNA, 10 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.