Amateur-built RV-7A accident near Marsing, Idaho, April 23, 2011
On April 23, 2011 at about 6:00 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-7A, registered N59TD, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Marsing, Idaho (Sunrise Skypark Airport). 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 loss of engine power during initial climb for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 2011 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Marsing, Idaho · Sunrise Skypark Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-7A
- Registration
- N59TD · registry record · serial 72688
- 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 the run-up and takeoff were normal but that, during climbout, the engine sputtered and began to lose power. He kept the airplane straight and level and continued straight ahead. The pilot switched fuel tanks, turned on the fuel pump, and positioned the engine controls full forward; however, the engine continued to lose power. He then retarded the mixture and made a controlled descent between two ponds. The airplane stalled and landed hard on flat terrain, which resulted in structural damage to the left wing. The pilot stated that he had refueled the airplane several weeks before the accident but that he had not flown the airplane since that time. The pilot stated that, when he departed on the accident flight, the fuel tanks were full. Law enforcement personnel reported that, upon arrival at the accident site, fuel was leaking from the airplane. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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 (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: gyroplane; instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 300 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 45 hours
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ID40 Marsing ID at 6:00 pm
- Destination: ID40 Marsing ID
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from BOI, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.