Amateur-built NIEUPORT 11 accident near Pahrump, Nevada, September 18, 2009
On September 18, 2009 at about 4:15 pm local time, a amateur-built NIEUPORT 11, registered N124LH, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Pahrump, Nevada (Calvada Meadows Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to a failure of the engine's sole magneto.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 2009 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Pahrump, Nevada · Calvada Meadows Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built NIEUPORT 11
- Registration
- N124LH · no longer on the register · serial 443
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During cruise flight the engine lost all power. The pilot did not have enough time and altitude to perform an engine restart, and during the subsequent forced landing, the airplane nosed over. The airplane was equipped with an automotive engine converted for aviation use. Post accident examination revealed that the engine's only magneto had failed after its rotor was damaged by a loose high tension lead attachment screw. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and vertical stabilizer during the accident sequence.
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
What happened, in order
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during enroute
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Magneto/distributor › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 643 hours in all; 5 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 643 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 3, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 41 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2009; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 930 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1835 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NV74 Pahrump NV at 3:35 pm
- Destination: NV74 Pahrump NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 5,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from NV65, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.