Amateur-built Wind Wagon accident near Leesburg, Florida, March 19, 2007
On March 19, 2007 at about 2:55 pm local time, a amateur-built Wind Wagon, registered N9017M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Leesburg, Florida (Leesburg International Airport). It was a flight test 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
The failure of the pilot to abort the takeoff after recognizing that the engine rpm was 760 less than desired after becoming airborne, and the inability of the airplane to maintain a positive rate of climb resulting in a controlled descent, and in-flight collision with a concrete blast type fence. A factor in the accident was the in-flight encounter with turbulence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 19, 2007 · about 2:55 pm local time
- Place
- Leesburg, Florida · Leesburg International Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Wind Wagon
- Registration
- N9017M · no longer on the register · serial 1324
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The installed engine/propeller combination did not produce the intended rpm after becoming airborne during the flight test flight, but the pilot continued the takeoff. During the initial climb when approximately 3/4 down the runway, the flight encountered turbulence, and coupled with reduced performance, resulted in failure to maintain a positive rate of climb. The pilot lowered the nose of the airplane in an effort to avoid a stall but the airplane collided with a concrete berm near the departure end of the runway. The airplane then impacted the ground adjacent to a 4-lane highway, and the airplane and a vehicle on the road collided. The pilot reported there was no preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction of the engine, flight controls, or systems.
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: 150 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 0.1 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 465 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental 4A032 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KLEE Leesburg FL
- Destination: KLEE Leesburg FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 4,957 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.39 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KLEE
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.
Other NTSB records under N9017M the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.