Amateur-built SPECIAL II accident near Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, August 3, 1996
On August 3, 1996 at about 2:40 pm local time, a amateur-built SPECIAL II, registered N113JM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Toa Baja, Puerto Rico (Private Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
water contamination in the fuel system, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power shortly after takeoff. Factors relating to the accident were: the lack of a quick draining feature in the fuel system, the pilot's failure (or inability) to detect water contamination in the fuel system during preflight inspection, and high obstruction(s) in the emergency landing area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 1996 · about 2:40 pm local time
- Place
- Toa Baja, Puerto Rico · Private Strip
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SPECIAL II
- Registration
- N113JM · registry record · serial CH-1292 CW09
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that before takeoff, he performed a preflight inspection of the home built airplane and made an engine run-up, but no discrepancies were noted. After takeoff, about 200 feet above ground level, the engine rpm dropped (uncommanded) from 6,300 to 2,000, and the pilot was unable to restore power. He initiated an emergency descent for a forced landing. As the pilot was maneuvering to avoid an obstruction, the airplane stalled and impacted the ground. An investigation revealed that the airplane's fuel tank had no provision for quick draining of fuel during a preflight inspection to check for contaminants. A sample of fuel was taken by disconnecting the fuel line to the carburetor, and water contamination was found. Also, water was found in the carburetor.
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: student
- Flight time: 191 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 90 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 95 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 15, 1995; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 900 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from SJU
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.