Fobes CGS Hawk Plus accident near West Middlesex, Pennsylvania, April 8, 2001
On April 8, 2001 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Fobes CGS Hawk Plus, registered UNREG, was destroyed in an accident near West Middlesex, Pennsylvania (West Middlesex airport). 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 partial loss of engine power, for undetermined reasons. Factors included the headwinds on base leg, and the unsuitable terrain for a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 2001 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- West Middlesex, Pennsylvania · West Middlesex · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fobes CGS Hawk Plus
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot took off towards the south, flew a left downwind leg, then turned west onto a left base leg. At the time, he was maintaining a 500-foot altitude, and 6,000 rpm on the airplane's Rotax 503 engine. As the airplane continued along the base leg, it began a descent. While passing through 400 feet, the engine experienced a partial power loss, and thereafter would not provide any more than 3,000 rpm. The airplane continued its descent, and struck power lines that approximately paralleled the runway, at a height of 60 feet. It subsequently impacted the ground, and was consumed by fire. Post-flight inspection revealed that the engine rotated freely; however, due to its condition, further engine examination was not performed. Winds at the time of the accident were from 270 degrees true, at 14, gusting to 19 knots. There were woods and houses to the north of the base leg, and a house to the south.
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: 275 hours in all; 125 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PA21 West Middlesex PA at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 14 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from YNG
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.
Other NTSB records under UNREG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.