Amateur-built SABRE II / S2A accident near Merritt Island, Florida, April 29, 1994
On April 29, 1994 at about 5:45 pm local time, a amateur-built SABRE II / S2A, registered N692KA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Merritt Island, Florida (Merritt Island airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INADEQUATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS AND INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT PLANNING WHEN ENCOUNTERING A HEADWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 1994 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Merritt Island, Florida · Merritt Island · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SABRE II / S2A SABRE II /
- Registration
- N692KA · no longer on the register · serial S2A-K001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND PILOT-RATED PASSENGER DEPARTED ON A LOCAL FLIGHT WITH FULL FUEL. ON RETURN, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED STRONGER THAN EXPECTED WINDS ALOFT, AND THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING AND WHILE ROLLING TO A STOP, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A FENCE AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,113 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 964 as pilot in command; 135 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TIT Titusville FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from MLB, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.