Emory B. Wood Phantom X1 accident near Warrenton, Virginia, April 17, 2008
On April 17, 2008 at about 11:25 pm local time, a Emory B. Wood Phantom X1, registered N2692P, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Warrenton, Virginia (Warrenton Air Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power during initial climb for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 2008 · about 11:25 pm local time
- Place
- Warrenton, Virginia · Warrenton Air Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Emory B. Wood Phantom X1
- Registration
- N2692P · no longer on the register · serial 04029013
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness watched as the pilot of an experimental light sport aircraft conducted touch-and-go landings. The witness then heard the engine "quit," and drove in the direction of the airplane. He found the airplane crashed in a heavily wooded area. Examination of the amateur-built airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no mechanical or flight control anomalies, and fuel was present at the accident site.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 94 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, January 28, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 700 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 DCDI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7VG0 Warrenton VA at 11:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04, 2,215 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 11:40 pm from HWY, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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 N2692P 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.