Higher Class Aviation Sport Hornet accident near Appling, Georgia, May 4, 2008
On May 4, 2008 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Higher Class Aviation Sport Hornet, registered N104HC, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Appling, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The interruption of fuel flow for undetermined reasons, resulting in a loss of engine power during flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 2008 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Appling, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Higher Class Aviation Sport Hornet
- Registration
- N104HC · no longer on the register · serial 062
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was an hour and 25 minutes into the flight, performing numerous turning maneuvers with bank angles varying between 20 and 45 degrees when the engine lost power. After the loss of engine power, he cupped his hands around the header low fuel warning light and noted that it was illuminated and was unaware how long it was on for. The engine was restarted and operated for 30 seconds before shutting down again. He elected to land near an area next to the lake, which he was maneuvering over at the time. The airplane flipped over during the force landing. A post recovery wreckage examination was performed. The presence of fuel was observed and no discrepancies were noted with the airplane’s fuel system. A five minute engine run was accomplished with no discrepancies noted. The pilot stated the airplane was topped off with fuel before the accident flight. The manufacturer states the airplane holds 16 gallons of usable fuel. The calculated fuel burn on the accident flight was about 8 gallons.
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 maneuvering defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel distribution › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 134 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: January 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 34 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6J6 Trenton SC at 5:40 pm
- Destination: 6J6 Trenton SC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from DNL
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.
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.