Amateur-built VP-2 accident near Warrenton, Virginia, December 8, 2004
On December 8, 2004 at about 8:20 pm local time, a amateur-built VP-2, registered N19LC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Warrenton, Virginia. It was a flight test 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
A loss of engine power for an undetermined reason.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 8, 2004 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Warrenton, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VP-2
- Registration
- N19LC · registry record · serial LD-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had just completed recent maintenance to the airplane's converted automobile engine. Before conducting the accident flight, the pilot ran the engine for 20 minutes, of which 1 minute was at full power. After takeoff, the engine began to run rough, and the cylinder head temperature rose. The engine rpm then progressively dropped from full power to 2,300 rpm, and the pilot attempted to return to the airport; however, he conducted a forced landing to a clearing as the aircraft settled with limited power. During the forced landing, the airplane struck trees, and subsequently impacted the ground. The pilot added that the engine had seized on a prior flight, in September 2004. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the engine had seized and heat damage was noted.
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: 370 hours in all; 356 in this make and model; 340 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 207 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2004; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,021 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Hapi 60-E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W66 Warrenton VA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 8:20 pm from CJR
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.