Amateur-built Velocity LWFG-E accident near Punta Gorda, Florida, December 10, 2005
On December 10, 2005 at about 3:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Velocity LWFG-E, registered N535BM, was destroyed in an accident near Punta Gorda, Florida (Charlotte County 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
A 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
- December 10, 2005 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Punta Gorda, Florida · Charlotte County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Velocity LWFG-E
- Registration
- N535BM · no longer on the register · serial DMO387
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot/builder of the accident airplane stated that the takeoff and initial climb were normal until the airplane reached about 200-300 feet, when the engine began "losing compression." He further stated that the airspeed began to bleed off, so he lowered the nose to maintain 80 knots and turned the airplane back toward the runway. He said that he was unable to reach the runway, so he decided to land in the grass on the airport property. According to the pilot the landing flare and touchdown were normal, but during the rollout the airplane struck a taxiway sign, became airborne, impacted the ground again on the main landing gear, and then came to a sudden stop in a ditch. It then caught fire and was mostly consumed in the flames. According to the pilot/builder, the airplane had a General Motors automobile conversion V-6 engine, and the accident flight was the first flight after the airplane had been built. Prior to the flight only ground taxi operations had been performed. During takeoff on the first and accident flight, the pilot said he noticed the engine temperature gauge needle showing that the engine was operating at a very high temperature. The pilot/builder said that postcrash examination of the engine could not be accomplished because it had been constructed largely of aluminum and the intense heat of the postcrash fire mostly consumed the engine and melted the aluminum.
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: 130 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: December 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,780 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: General Motors 4.3L (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PGD Punta Gorda FL at 3:00 pm
- Destination: PGD Punta Gorda FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; scat
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 3:05 pm from PGD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.