Amateur-built CHALLENGER II accident near Moses Lake, Washington, June 27, 2011
On June 27, 2011 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built CHALLENGER II, registered N9103L, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Moses Lake, Washington. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power during the 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
- June 27, 2011 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Moses Lake, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CHALLENGER II
- Registration
- N9103L · no longer on the register · serial CH2-0200-1955
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and the flight instructor were in the process of starting the climb after takeoff in the airplane that the pilot had recently purchased. As they started to turn toward the practice area, the airplane’s water-cooled engine suddenly began to overheat. The pilots therefore initiated a turn back toward the airport, but the engine started losing power. Because it appeared that they would not be able to make it to the airport, the flight instructor took over and landed the airplane in a nearby soft field covered with a crop of wheat. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over and a fire began, which eventually consumed much of the airframe structure and engine components. Although the engine cooling system was missing a mandatory cooling system vent line, the teardown examination did not reveal any evidence of overheating or component seizure in the engine’s top end. The investigation also determined that the failure of the crankshaft to rotate after the accident was due to the postaccident melting and subsequent solidification of the phenolic MAG bearing cages due to the postimpact fire. The investigation was unable to determine the reason for the loss of engine power.
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 maneuvering defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing 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
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Not specified
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 30,000 hours in all; 250 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 559 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 530 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 27, 2011
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 960 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Moses Lake WA at 4:28 pm
- Destination: Moses Lake WA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 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.