Composite Aircraft Mfg CO. COZY accident near Hudson, Iowa, February 25, 1989
On February 25, 1989 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Composite Aircraft Mfg CO. COZY, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N611CZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hudson, Iowa. 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
IMPROPER PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY AND FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 25, 1989 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Hudson, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Composite Aircraft Mfg CO. COZY, amateur-built
- Registration
- N611CZ · registry record · serial 61
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT WHILE FLYING AN EXPERIMENTAL COZY ACFT ON A LOCAL FLIGHT, THE ENGINE QUIT. AN EMERGENCY LDG WAS ATTEMPTED IN A FARM FIELD AND THE LEFT GEAR WAS TORN OFF AND THE WINGS DAMAGED IN ADDITION TO OTHER SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY.
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: 196 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 153 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ALO Waterloo IA at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from ALO, 15 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.