Amateur-built M-1 accident near Covode, Pennsylvania, July 20, 2007
On July 20, 2007 at about 1:00 pm local time, a amateur-built M-1, registered N1085, was destroyed in an accident near Covode, Pennsylvania (None airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for undermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 2007 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Covode, Pennsylvania · None · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built M-1
- Registration
- N1085 · no longer on the register · serial 403
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had recently purchased the amateur-built airplane in Connecticut and was attempting to fly the airplane back to his home near Renton, Washington. The airplane departed from an airport in Pennsylvania, and two witnesses, who saw the airplane flying westbound, stated the engine did not sound normal. Shortly thereafter, they heard an explosion and saw smoke. The wreckage was located 2 days later, in an open field. A ground scar, and an approximately 50-foot-long debris path, lead to the main wreckage, which was consumed by fire, from the empennage forward. Examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions; however, the fire consumed and/or damaged several portions of the airplane. The airplane and engine had been operated for about 270 total hours. The intended cross-country flight was the airplane's first flight since its most recent condition inspection, which was about 5 weeks prior to the accident.
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: 480 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 270 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 1, 2007; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SEG Selinsgrove PA
- Destination: Renton WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 13 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 12:42 pm from IDI, 17 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.