Amateur-built PT2 accident near Lodi, California, August 3, 2024
On August 3, 2024 at about 7:45 pm local time, a 1992 amateur-built PT2, registered N657MJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Lodi, California (Lodi 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 reported loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 2024 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Lodi, California · Lodi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PT2, built 1992
- Registration
- N657MJ · registry record · serial PT 1135
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot, who held a student pilot certificate, stated that he maneuvered in the local area after departure. After about 40 minutes, he started to return to the airport. With the airplane about 2,000 ft above ground level (agl), the engine lost all power. Despite his attempts, the engine would not start, and the pilot maneuvered toward a field to make an off-airport emergency landing. During the landing touchdown, the airplane impacted a grapevine, substantially damaging the left wing struts. The pilot did not respond to investigators’ requests to examine the airplane. Therefore, the investigation was unable to determine the reason for the reported 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
- Unknown or undetermined during enroute defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 120 hours in all; 12 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,218.6 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 7, 2024; 21.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,550 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-1A10 (piston); 2,240 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from KSCK, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSCX 031855Z VRB04KT 10SM CLR 35/11 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP131 T03500111
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on June 25, 2026. 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, 87 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pictures | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.