Amateur-built SE5A REPLICA accident near Hendersonville, North Carolina, September 17, 2007
On September 17, 2007 at about 2:45 pm local time, a amateur-built SE5A REPLICA, registered N7072E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hendersonville, North Carolina (W.N.C. Air Museum 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
A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 2007 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Hendersonville, North Carolina · W.N.C. Air Museum Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SE5A REPLICA
- Registration
- N7072E · no longer on the register · serial 076222
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During takeoff, about 200 feet above ground level (agl), the engine began to lose partial power, and then experienced a total loss of power. The pilot attempted to return to the airport, but the airplane impacted a wetlands area, and came to rest inverted. The airplane was equipped with an O-200 engine, which was last overhauled about 28 years prior to the accident. In addition, the engine had only accumulated 332 total hours of operation since that overhaul. The airplane's most recent condition inspection was completed 3 days prior to the accident, and it had not flown since that inspection. After the accident, the pilot performed a cursory examination of the engine, and did not find anything obvious that would explain the loss of engine power.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 809 hours in all; 265 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 726 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 332 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 1, 2007; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8NC9 Hendersonville NC at 2:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 2,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from AVL, 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.
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.