Amateur-built Floatmaster accident near Elma, Washington, February 27, 2002
On February 27, 2002 at about 11:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Floatmaster, registered N2425D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elma, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Soft terrain was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 27, 2002 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Elma, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Floatmaster
- Registration
- N2425D · registry record · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while turning from downwind to base leg, the engine surged, coughed, then quit. The pilot tried unsuccessfully to restart the engine. Unable to reach the runway, the pilot initiated a forced landing to an open field. During the landing roll on the soft terrain, the aircraft nosed over. During the post-accident inspection of the engine, no evidence was found to indicate a mechanical failure or malfunction. Local weather conditions indicated carburetor icing conditions favorable for serious icing at cruise or climb power. The pilot reported that he had been using carburetor heat.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,300 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 8,220 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 23, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 42 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 14, 2001; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8W9 Rochester WA at 10:30 pm
- Destination: 4W8 Elma WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,100 ft; a few clouds at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.35 inHg
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.