Amateur-built Junior Ace accident near Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, July 21, 2007
On July 21, 2007 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Junior Ace, registered N9778N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dover-Foxcroft, Maine. 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
The failure of the pilot to maintain airspeed following total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, resulting in a stall/mush, uncontrolled descent, and in-flight collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 2007 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Dover-Foxcroft, Maine · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Junior Ace
- Registration
- N9778N · no longer on the register · serial DMD100
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight departed with 6 gallons of fuel on board, flew locally, then returned to the departure airport where the pilot performed 2 full-stop taxi back landings. The flight departed from runway 27, remained in the traffic pattern, and while on the downwind leg, the pilot reduced power to 1,700-1,800 rpm. The pilot extended the downwind leg, turned base and final, then the engine experienced a loss of power due to fuel starvation. The pilot then inadvertently stalled the airplane which collided with trees during the uncontrolled descent. Postaccident examination of the engine and flight controls by an FAA inspector revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction; a minimum quantity of fuel was noted but the amount was not quantified.
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: 1,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 220 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 44B Dover-Foxcroft ME at 8:15 pm
- Destination: 44B Dover-Foxcroft ME
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 4,100 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KBGR
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.