Amateur-built A1 accident near Keizer, Oregon, September 10, 1999
On September 10, 1999 at about 10:20 pm local time, a amateur-built A1, registered N3451, was substantially damaged in an accident near Keizer, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loose fuel line fitting resulted in a loss of engine power. An intentional wheels down landing was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 1999 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Keizer, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built A1
- Registration
- N3451 · registry record · serial 337
- 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 during the cruise climb, the engine suddenly experienced a short roughness and partial power loss. The engine then regained full power, followed by a complete power loss. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and a forced landing was initiated to an open field. As the aircraft continued to descend, the pilot realized that he would not make the field and diverted to the river. The pilot had been utilizing the amphibian aircraft as a land plane and had not retracted the landing gear after departure. There was not enough time to hand crank the landing gear up. Therefore, the aircraft landed with the gear extended. During the landing on the water, the aircraft nosed over. Post-crash inspection of the engine found a loose fuel line fitting to the fuel pump.
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
- Flight time: 2,300 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 2,040 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 470 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 19, 1999; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SLE Salem OR at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 pm from SLE, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.