Quicksilver MXL-2 accident near Humacao, Puerto Rico, November 29, 1998
On November 29, 1998 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Quicksilver MXL-2, registered N6153E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Humacao, Puerto Rico. It was a personal 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's use of a synthetic oil that is not recommended by the engine manufacturer when premixing his two cycle gasoline/oil fuel mixture, resulting is a total loss of engine power due to decreased lubricating properties, and the subsequent forced landing to unsuitable terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 29, 1998 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Humacao, Puerto Rico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Quicksilver MXL-2
- Registration
- N6153E · no longer on the register · serial 180
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After a flight of about 2 hours, the pilot was at about 500 feet agl, about 2 miles from his landing airport, when his two cycle engine sputtered and quit. The pilot performed a forced landing to a road in a residential area and collided with trees. Subsequent engine examination revealed sticking piston rings and piston to cylinder wall metal transfer due to lack of adequate lubrication. The pilot/operator stated he was using synthetic oil for his fuel/oil mixture.
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
- Flight time: 800 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 149 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, July 5, 1998; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 793 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 DC DCDI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X63 Humacao Muni PR at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; scat at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from SJU, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.