Amateur-built Q2 accident near Puyallup, Washington, November 24, 1995
On November 24, 1995 at about 8:28 pm local time, a amateur-built Q2, registered N4416Q, was destroyed in an accident near Puyallup, Washington. 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
a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, and his improper decision to attempt a 180-degree turn back toward the runway during the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 24, 1995 · about 8:28 pm local time
- Place
- Puyallup, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Q2
- Registration
- N4416Q · no longer on the register · serial 2584
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the initial climbout, witnesses observed the airplane gain an altitude of about 150 feet above the ground. They then heard the engine quit, and observed the airplane begin to turn back toward the departure runway. The airplane stalled, nosed over, and impacted terrain during the maneuver. The terrain surrounding the departure runway consisted of level fields with no obstructions. Examination of the engine revealed some non-standard items and workmanship associated with the fuel, oil, and exhaust system; however, no conclusive evidence was found to determine the cause of the loss of power.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 140 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 1995
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from TCM, 9 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N4416Q the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.