Amateur-built CORBEN ACE accident near Arlington, Washington, July 11, 1994
On July 11, 1994 at about 1:35 am local time, a amateur-built CORBEN ACE, registered CFKEZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arlington, 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
FUEL STARVATION DUE TO THE BUILDERS' INADEQUATE DESIGN OF THE FUEL SYSTEM. FACTORS INCLUDE HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES DURING THE CLIMB, AND A FENCE IN THE FIELD WHERE THE FORCED LANDING TOOK PLACE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 1994 · about 1:35 am local time
- Place
- Arlington, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CORBEN ACE
- Registration
- CFKEZ · no longer on the register · serial 0988
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER A TAXI, RUN-UP, AND TAKEOFF IN TEMPERATURES OF 95 PLUS DEGREES, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER DURING AN EIGHT TO TEN MINUTE CLIMB TO CRUISE ALTITUDE. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL LINE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAD BEEN ROUTED IN A MANNER THAT ALLOWED IT TO ABSORB EXCESSIVE HEAT, RESULTING IN VAPORIZATION OF FUEL IN THE LINE.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 290 hours in all; 290 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 90 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 18, 1994; 86 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,004 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A 65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: YXX Abbotsford
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°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.