Amateur-built HAWK 304 accident near Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, July 22, 1986
On July 22, 1986 at about 12:20 pm local time, a amateur-built HAWK 304, registered N13CH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wolfeboro, New Hampshire (Wolfeboro 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 1986 · about 12:20 pm local time
- Place
- Wolfeboro, New Hampshire · Wolfeboro
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built HAWK 304
- Registration
- N13CH · no longer on the register · serial 19753
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT EQUIPPED WITH A BUICK V-8 ALUMINUM BLOCK ENGINE EXPERIENCED POWER LOSS ON APPROACH FOR LANDING. THE PILOT DECIDED THAT THE DISTANCE AND TERRAIN WAS TOO GREAT FOR A GLIDE TO THE AIRPORT, AND AN EMERGENCY WATER LANDING IN A NEARBY LAKE WAS MADE. THE ENGINE WAS TESTED AND NO DISCREPANCIES WERE DISCOVERED.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 3,800 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 3,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 40 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 22, 1985; 32 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Buick V-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 4,500 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.