NTSB Factual Report

On August 15, 2003, about 0730 central daylight time, an amateur-built Satterlee Volksplane VP-1, N493, was destroyed when it impacted a road and a ditch shortly after takeoff from runway 17 (3,600 feet by 60 feet, asphalt), at the Blosser Municipal Airport, Concordia, Kansas. The student pilot was seriously injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.

In a written statement, the pilot said that upon reaching 3,000 feet mean sea level after takeoff, he reduced throttle to a cruise setting. He stated that the normal cruise engine speed is about 2,400 to 2,500 revolutions per minute (RPM), and that the engine speed dropped to about 1,700 RPM. He stated that the engine speed continued to drop and throttle movement had no effect. The pilot stated that he elected to land on Highway 81. He said that, due to traffic on the highway, he elected to land the airplane on the northbound side of the highway. He stated that he crossed the southbound lanes at about 15 feet above ground level and the airplane impacted on part of the northbound lanes which broke off on of the landing gear. The airplane subsequently impacted a ditch adjacent to the road.

A Kansas Highway Patrol Accident Report stated, "Pilot stated that he took off southbound and banked to the right (west) and caught a down draft causing him to drop. Pilot knew he was going to crash so he banked hard right, bounced off the highway and crashed into the northbound ditch...."

A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no pre-impact defects. The magneto was bench tested and was found to produce spark. The fuel filter was examined and was not restricted.

The temperature and dewpoint were 21 degrees Celsius and 17 degrees Celsius respectively. A carburetor icing probability chart places this combination of temperature and dewpoint in the range for moderate icing during cruise power and serious icing during descent power.

The pilot held a student pilot certificate. He had an endorsement authorizing solo flight in a Cessna 150. The pilot had no endorsement authorizing solo flight in the accident airplane. The pilot had no endorsement for flight in conventional gear (taildragger) airplanes. The accident airplane was a conventional gear airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing factors were the roadway, the ditch and unsuitable terrain.