Miller RUTAN LONG-EZ N944SJ

Summary

On 23 May 2006 at about 22:00 local time, a Miller RUTAN LONG-EZ registered N944SJ was involved in an accident near Morris, Illinois, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 May 2006 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Morris, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Morris Municipal Airport (C09)

Coordinates

41.4253, -88.4186

Aircraft

Miller RUTAN LONG-EZ

Registration

N944SJ

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Paducah → Morris

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI06CA136

Nobody was injured.

The partial loss of engine power during the final approach to landing for undetermined reasons, and the unsuitable terrain for landing encountered by the pilot. The tall grass was a factor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The amateur-built experimental airplane sustained substantial damage when it landed in a field with tall grass about 210 feet short of the paved runway. The pilot reported that he applied power when he recognized that he was low on the approach, but the engine did not respond and the airplane impacted the terrain. The inspection of the engine revealed that the crankshaft was intact and that there was compression on all cylinders. The engine was fuel injected and had electronic ignition. No deficiencies were found that would have precluded normal engine operation. The left fuel tank had 5 gallons of fuel and the right tank had 8 gallons of fuel. Both of the wooden propeller blades were shattered off about 12 inches from the hub.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.