Friday, June 03, 2022

Zenith CH 750 Cruzer, N415WF: Accident occurred June 02, 2022 in San Antonio, Texas

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. 

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Antonio, Texas


Location: San Antonio, Texas
Accident Number: CEN22LA229
Date and Time: June 2, 2022, 14:11 Local
Registration: N415WF
Aircraft: FAHEY WILLIAM J CH750 CRUZER
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: FAHEY WILLIAM J 
Registration: N415WF
Model/Series: CH750 CRUZER 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:
Operator: On file 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KSKF,690 ft msl
Observation Time: 13:55 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 14 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 32°C /18°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 5500 ft AGL 
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 8 knots / , 50°
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 18000 ft AGL 
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.91 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: San Antonio, TX (XS43) 
Destination: San Antonio, TX

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 29.507991,-98.799317 (est)

Aircraft crashed due to engine issues, clipped a fence and flipped over. 

Date: 02-JUN-22
Time: 19:11:00Z
Regis#: N415WF
Aircraft Make: ZENITH
Aircraft Model: CH750 CRUZER
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: SAN ANTONIO
State: TEXAS









SAN ANTONIO, Texas – A pilot escaped with only two scratches after making a crash landing in Medina County.

William Fahey said he was able to walk away from his plane.

Texas Department of Public Safety troopers responded to the single-engine plane crash around 2:41 p.m. south of FM 211 and Culebra Road in Medina County, a few miles outside Loop 1604.

Fahey said he was test flying what he called an experimental plane when his engine failed.

“It was going fine, engine temps, gearbox temps -- everything was good. I got out toward San Geronimo (Airpark), made a right turn to head toward Castroville and the engine just quit,” he said.

Fahey escaped with just a scratch on his arm and the other on his leg.

“I’m absolutely blessed. It could always be worse,” he said.

Fahey said he’d taken the plane up into the sky without any issue before.

He received his pilot’s license in 1980 and picked up flying again in 2019. Fahey said he’s been actively flying ever since.

The long-time pilot said he’s never experienced an engine failure before.

The Federal Aviation Administration will handle the investigation after they arrive in the area on Friday. After the investigation, Fahey said he plans to fix the plane up and get back into the air.

3 comments:

  1. Engine is a Viking 130, based on Honda Fit automotive.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Viking buys engines from salvage yards and makes them into aircraft engines.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Engine wasn't the problem - lack of fuel was the problem.

    ReplyDelete