Amateur-built SCAMP WT-B1 accident near Lake Wales, Florida, May 17, 1994
On May 17, 1994 at about 8:49 pm local time, a amateur-built SCAMP WT-B1, registered N8490, was destroyed in an accident near Lake Wales, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED (VS) WHILE MANEUVERING RESULTING IN AN IN-FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL (INADVERTENT STALL) AND SUBSEQUENT IN-FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 1994 · about 8:49 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Wales, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SCAMP WT-B1 SCAMP WT-
- Registration
- N8490 · no longer on the register · serial 1
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THE ENGINE LOST POWER THEN RESTARTED, BUT AT PARTIAL POWER, AFTER A CROSSWIND TAKEOFF. WHILE MANEUVERING FOR A FORCED LANDING THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN. A WITNESS STATED HE DID NOT HEAR ANY CHANGE IN ENGINE POWER BEFORE THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE FAA REVEALED NO INDICATION OF PREIMPACT DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,053 hours in all; 7 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 843 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 780 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1834 CC TYPE1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from LAL, 12 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.