Amateur-built Tierra I accident near Jensen, Utah, October 24, 2009
On October 24, 2009 at about 8:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Tierra I, registered N440KC, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Jensen, Utah. 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
A loss of engine power, as reported by the pilot, for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 24, 2009 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Jensen, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Tierra I
- Registration
- N440KC · no longer on the register · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
In a telephone interview with a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the non-certificated pilot reported that while descending to land the engine failed to respond to throttle input and lost power. The pilot landed short and nosed over in shallow water during an attempt to land on a sandbar. The inspector reported that the tubular wing support structure and left wing sustained substantial damage. When asked by the inspector what might have caused the engine to fail, the pilot responded, "I think I loaded it up when I added power and the engine quit." The inspector stated that attempts to meet with the pilot to discuss the accident further were unsuccessful. The pilot failed to submit a NTSB Form 6120.1, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report as requested.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Landing area undershoot during emergency descent
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Flight time: 20 hours in all; 20 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VER Vernal UT at 6:30 pm
- Destination: VER Vernal UT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from VEL, 11 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.