Amateur-built Marquart ChargerMA-5 accident near Pierson, Florida, June 25, 2003
On June 25, 2003 at about 11:30 am local time, a amateur-built Marquart ChargerMA-5, registered N707JK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pierson, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Separation of the elevator push/pull tube from the rear cockpit's control stick for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a loss of elevator control, an uncontrolled descent, and an impact with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 2003 · about 11:30 am local time
- Place
- Pierson, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Marquart ChargerMA-5
- Registration
- N707JK · registry record · serial EX01
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness stated that he was about 900 to 1,000 feet, and N707JK was about 400 to 500 feet below, in a position forward of his airplane's wing, such that N707JK was in constant view while flying in a loose formation. The witness said he saw left rudder movement on N707JK, and N707JK yawed to the left, yawed to the right, and then the nose dipped slightly and N707JK disappeared immediately in the canopy of trees. Within several seconds the witness said he was over the area where N707JK had disappeared, but he could not see anything due to the trees. He then increased his altitude, and made a radio communications call, declaring an emergency. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that that the rod end bearing on the elevator push/pull tube had disconnected from the rear cockpit's control stick, resulting in a loss of elevator control, and the connecting clevis bolt, castle nut, and cotter key were never recovered.
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: 613 hours in all; 274 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 554 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 2, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 324 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 13, 2002; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,583 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OMN Ormond Beach FL at 11:10 am
- Destination: 2J8 Pierson FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from DAB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number MIA03LA134.