Amateur-built Team Mini Max 1500R accident near Berkley, Massachusetts, September 7, 2008
On September 7, 2008 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Team Mini Max 1500R, registered N43436, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Berkley, Massachusetts (Wing-Over Farm airport). 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 total loss of engine power due to the contamination of the combustion cylinders.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 7, 2008 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Berkley, Massachusetts · Wing-Over Farm · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Team Mini Max 1500R
- Registration
- N43436 · registry record · serial P-98
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot/owner of the amateur-built airplane stated that during a local flight at 1,000 feet above ground level, he experienced a total loss of engine power. He made an emergency landing on a beach and the right wing impacted the ground. The airplane was released to the pilot for further examination of the engine. The pilot stated that during the examination of the Rotax 447 engine, he found large amounts of carbon build-up on the rings. Additionally, the cylinder walls were scored. Valve train continuity could not be established due to the carbon build-up. No other mechanical anomalies were noted by the pilot.
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 enroute (cruise) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 600 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2008; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 560 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 447 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MA18 Berkley MA at 7:30 pm
- Destination: MA18 Berkley MA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from BOS, 47 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.
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.