Grazier QUICKIE 2 N73QQ

Summary

On 11 September 1996 at about 19:40 local time, a Grazier QUICKIE 2 registered N73QQ was involved in an accident near Superior, Montana, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 September 1996 at 19:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Superior, Montana, United States

Nearest airport

Mineral County (9S4)

Coordinates

47.0491, -114.9697

Aircraft

Grazier QUICKIE 2

Registration

N73QQ

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA96LA212

1 person died.

loss of engine power after takeoff for undetermined reason(s), and failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed, while maneuvering to return to the departure airport, which resulted in a stall and collision with wooded terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot worked on the engine of his amateur-built experimental airplane before taking off. Starting the engine required use of a jump-start. The airplane did not have a magneto ignition, but relied on a battery-coil ignition system. After takeoff, the airplane climbed to about 600 feet above ground level. Witnesses observed the airplane enter a steep turn to reverse course back toward the airport. During the turn, the airplane's nose dropped abruptly, and the airplane 'nose-dived' into wooded terrain. A witness, who was driving on an adjacent highway at 68 mph, noted that before the accident, the airplane was flying slower than the witness's vehicle was traveling. Level flight stall speed of the airplane was listed as 64 mph. During the investigation, no preimpact mechanical discrepancy was found, other than a bad cell in the battery. There was evidence, however, that the propeller was not turning when the airplane crashed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.