Clark Aerosport Scamp accident near Chino, California, April 11, 2005
On April 11, 2005 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Clark Aerosport Scamp, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N234HC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chino, California (Chino 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
a loss of engine power due to the pilot/builder's excessive adjustment (lean) of the mixture setting at the carburetor. The pilot/builder's failure to perform a more comprehensive ground test prior to flight was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 11, 2005 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Chino, California · Chino · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Clark Aerosport Scamp, amateur-built
- Registration
- N234HC · no longer on the register · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane nosed over during a forced landing following a partial loss of engine power in the takeoff initial climb. Just prior to the accident flight, the pilot adjusted the mixture control at the carburetor because previous test flights indicated that the mixture was running too rich. He contacted the carburetor manufacturer and was advised to adjust the setting no greater than one turn. The pilot adjusted the setting one complete turn. Following an operational ground test at 2,700 rpm (full power is 3,600 rpm), he departed and climbed the airplane to 300 feet. The engine did not develop full power and he attempted to correct the problem by leaning the mixture. The condition worsened so he landed the airplane in a field. The airplane was going through its Phase I flight test and the airframe and engine had accumulated approximately 6 hours. The pilot did not report any mechanical failures with the airplane or engine.
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: 2,900 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 2,700 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 5, 2005; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 2180CC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CNO Chino CA at 8:42 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26L, 7,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from CNO, 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.