Scandinavian Aero Industry KZ VII accident near Elko, Nevada, July 29, 2005
On July 29, 2005 at about 11:02 pm local time, a Scandinavian Aero Industry KZ VII, registered N159KZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elko, Nevada (Elko Regional airport). 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
The pilot's failure to use carburetor heat, which resulted in the formation of carburetor ice and the total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 2005 · about 11:02 pm local time
- Place
- Elko, Nevada · Elko Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Scandinavian Aero Industry KZ VII
- Registration
- N159KZ · no longer on the register · serial 159
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with a pole during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. Earlier during the flight the pilot had experienced carburetor ice while cruising, and he had successfully handled the situation by utilizing carburetor heat. Approaching the destination airport, the pilot initially used the carburetor heat, but turned it off while maneuvering for the landing. About 1/2-mile from the runway on short final approach, carburetor ice was encountered and the engine lost all 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: 493 hours in all; 280 in this make and model; 83 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 439 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,955 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2005; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ENV Wendover UT at 9:30 pm
- Destination: EKO Elko NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 7,214 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 17 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; a few clouds at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from EKO, 1 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.