On September 11, 2010, about 1745 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Savage-Cozy, N9699, airplane, experienced a loss of engine power while in the traffic pattern, and the pilot attempted to land on a taxiway at the Aurora State Airport (AUO), Aurora, Oregon. The private pilot/owner operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot, the sole occupant, received serious injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage after it collided with a hangar and came to rest inverted. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan had been filed.

According to a witness, while the airplane was in the pattern, he heard “strange noises” emanating from the engine. The airplane then attempted to land on a taxiway; however, it struck the top of a hangar, and came to rest inverted near the hangar.