Amateur-built BUCCANEER II XA650 accident near Lake Wales, Florida, January 19, 1990
On January 19, 1990 at about 9:45 pm local time, a amateur-built BUCCANEER II XA650, registered N661AB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Wales, Florida (Chalet Suzanne Air Strip 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
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO A HOLE THAT CHAFED IN A FUEL LINE ON THE SUCTION SIDE OF THE FUEL FILTER DUE TO POOR MAINTENANCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 19, 1990 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Wales, Florida · Chalet Suzanne Air Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BUCCANEER II XA650 BUCCANEER
- Registration
- N661AB · no longer on the register · serial 01
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT 100 FT AGL, THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENG LOST POWER, THEN QUIT. DURING THE FORCED LANDING, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES THEN CRASHED TO THE GROUND. EXAM OF THE ENGIN REVEALED THAT A FUEL LINE ON THE SUCTION SIDE OF THE FUEL FILTER HAD A SMALL HOLE CHAFED IN IT. THIS RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF POWER. ACCORDING TO FAA PERSONNEL IN OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, THE PLTS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE HAD EXPIRED.
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: 195 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 532 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Clermont FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:49 pm from BOW, 9 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.