Amateur-built Titan Tornado I accident near Charlton, Massachusetts, September 24, 2003
On September 24, 2003 at about 2:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Titan Tornado I, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Charlton, Massachusetts (Dresser Hill 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
A seizure of the forward piston during the initial climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 24, 2003 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Charlton, Massachusetts · Dresser Hill Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Titan Tornado I
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial T0250350HK0431
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-certificated pilot was attempting his first flight in an uncertificated experimental airplane, with an uncertificated engine. The pilot had recently completed construction of the airplane, and prior to the accident flight, the engine had accumulated 7 hours of operation. Before the accident takeoff, the pilot let the engine warm up for 10 minutes while taxiing on the runway. The airplane then took off uneventfully. About 1,000 feet agl, the engine lost all power, and the pilot performed a forced landing into trees. Examination of the engine revealed scoring in the forward piston and cylinder, and the location of the scoring was consistent with a cold seizure. The engine was subsequently test run on the accident airplane with no difficulties.
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: 17 hours in all; 7 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 750 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Charlton MA at 1:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 360, 2,000 ft by 300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from ORH, 10 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.
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.