Amateur-built Wheeler Exp 2000 accident near Stuart, Florida, April 21, 2007
On April 21, 2007 at about 11:18 pm local time, a amateur-built Wheeler Exp 2000, registered N37CA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stuart, Florida (Witham Field). 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
Contamination of the fuel system which resulted in a loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was unsuitable terrain for a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 21, 2007 · about 11:18 pm local time
- Place
- Stuart, Florida · Witham Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Wheeler Exp 2000
- Registration
- N37CA · no longer on the register · serial 067
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he was on a left base leg for landing when the engine failed for an unknown reason. He was unable to make the airport and ditched the airplane in a river. The airplane was recovered and the engine was removed and taken to an engine overhaul facility for disassembly. No evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction was found in the engine assembly. The engine-driven fuel pump was sent to a component overhaul facility for disassembly inspection. The driveshaft in the fuel pump was found sheared and the pump was found to be contaminated with a rubber type substance.
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: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 28,500 hours in all; 57 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 27,000 as pilot in command; 15 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 57 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LAL Lakeland FL at 10:30 pm
- Destination: SUA Stuart FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 11:30 pm from SUA, 3 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.