Boeing A75N1 accident near Romney, West Virginia, May 25, 2008
On May 25, 2008 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Boeing A75N1, registered N46996, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Romney, West Virginia (Private airport). 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
A partial loss of engine power during takeoff due to failure of the left magneto. Contributing to the accident was unsuitable terrain to conduct a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 2008 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Romney, West Virginia · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing A75N1 · all A75N1s on the register
- Registration
- N46996 · registry record · serial 75-3736
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed the turf runway and, shortly after takeoff, the airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power. Unable to out-climb the rising terrain, the pilot intentionally allowed the airplane to stall into the treetops of a heavily wooded area. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left magneto would not produce spark when rotated and subsequent disassembly of the magneto revealed that the cam follower was broken. The magneto had been operated for about 300 hours since it was installed during October 2001. The prior service history of the magneto could not be determined, except that it was in storage for about 9 years prior to its installation on the accident airplane.
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
What happened, in order
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during takeoff
- Loss of engine power (partial) during takeoff defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Magneto/distributor › Failure
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Mountainous/hilly terrain › Contributed to outcome
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,950 hours in all; 2,100 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 19, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,715 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 22, 2008; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W670 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Romney WV at 6:00 pm
- Destination: NONE Romney WV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,000 ft by 175 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.30 inHg
- Observation at 6:37 pm from CBE, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.