Amateur-built SEAHAWK accident near Richmond, Kentucky, May 25, 1994
On May 25, 1994 at about 8:30 pm local time, a amateur-built SEAHAWK, registered N65TB, was destroyed in an accident near Richmond, Kentucky (Madison 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
was the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and the collision with an object during the subsequent 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, 1994 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Richmond, Kentucky · Madison · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SEAHAWK
- Registration
- N65TB · no longer on the register · serial 129
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIS WAS THE PILOT'S SECOND FLIGHT IN THE EXPERIMENTAL, HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE. AFTER TAKEOFF, HE CLIMBED TO ABOUT 800 FEET OVER THE AIRPORT. HE STATED ON THE RADIO THAT THE ENGINE HAD LOST POWER. AFTER SWITCHING FUEL TANKS, THE ENGINE RESTARTED, BUT IT QUIT AGAIN AFTER A SHORT TIME. THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO RUNWAY 18. HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE AIRPORT AND IMPACTED A TREE ABOUT 200 FEET FROM THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED BY POST-IMPACT FIRE. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO EVACUATE THE AIRPLANE, BUT WAS SEVERELY BURNED.
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: 613 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: I39 at 8:20 pm
- Destination: I39 KY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 12 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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.