Lo-N-Slo Airsports Inc. Maxair Drifter XP-50 accident near Cobbs Creek, Virginia, October 31, 2005
On October 31, 2005 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Lo-N-Slo Airsports Inc. Maxair Drifter XP-50, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N41094, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cobbs Creek, Virginia. 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
Failure of the ignition system, which resulted in a loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 31, 2005 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Cobbs Creek, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lo-N-Slo Airsports Inc. Maxair Drifter XP-50, amateur-built
- Registration
- N41094 · no longer on the register · serial DR-0460
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While maneuvering the airplane at an altitude of 500 feet, the pilot noticed the engine power drop by about 400 rpm. He initiated a left 180-degree turn, and within about 3 seconds, the uncertificated engine lost power completely. The pilot then performed a forced landing to a field, during which, the airplane impacted left wing low, in an "incipient stall" condition. The airplane then bounced and slid about 20 feet, before coming to rest at an angle about 90 degrees from the first impact. Examination of the Rotax engine revealed an inoperable ignition system.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,910 hours in all; 2,829 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 5,369 as pilot in command; 2,495 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,353.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2005; 13.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 910 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W75 Saluda VA at 5:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observation at 5:21 pm from FYJ, 16 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.