Costruzioni Aeronautichetecnam P2002 SIERRA accident near Tooele, Utah, April 10, 2010
On April 10, 2010 at about 11:35 pm local time, a Costruzioni Aeronautichetecnam P2002 SIERRA, registered N797TS, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Tooele, Utah (Bolinder-Tooele Valley airport). 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 total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 2010 · about 11:35 pm local time · cases in 2010
- Place
- Tooele, Utah · Bolinder-Tooele Valley · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Costruzioni Aeronautichetecnam P2002 SIERRA
- Registration
- N797TS · registry record · serial 243
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot turned onto the final approach leg for landing, and the engine lost power completely. The pilot attempted to restart the engine, but he was not successful. Because the pilot had extended his downwind leg in the traffic pattern for an inbound airplane, he was not able to glide all the way to the airport. As the airplane descended into the underlying terrain, it impacted a fence, substantially damaging the wings. Airplane recovery personnel observed fuel in the tanks and fuel lines. The airplane was subsequently examined, and no evidence of any airworthiness anomalies was noted. The engine was successfully test run, and no evidence of any mechanical malfunction was found. While the airplane was operating in conditions conducive to carburetor icing at glide power at the time of the accident, the investigation was unable to determine if carburetor ice caused the power loss.The reason for the engine’s power loss was not determined.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Contributed to outcome
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 465 hours in all; 277 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 182 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 8, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 396 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 15, 2010; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SLC Salt Lake City UT at 11:10 pm
- Destination: TVY Tooele UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 6,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 8 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on November 2, 2011. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Statement - Mcrae | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Statement - Rushton | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Aircraft Flight and Fuel Log | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Aircraft Logbook (Extract) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Engine Logbook (Extract) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Propeller Logbook (Extract) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Tecnam Flight Manual (Extract) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N797TS on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS 62 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Bolinder Fld/Tooele Valley Airport · nearest airport
- Salt Lake City International · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Utah 1,440 since 1982 · 264 in the last ten years
- Utah 8,355 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR10LA202.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.