1999 – N627KB – Ken Swertfeger – Velocity SE/FG – Murfreesboro, TN – 1

The pilot was on approach for landing when the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power, and crashed during a forced landing. Examination of the airframe and engine assembly revealed no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure or malfunction. Visual inspection of the spark plugs revealed very black and sooty. Fuel was present in […]

1998 – N234Q – Good – Velocity SE/FG – Romulus, MI – 1

The U.S. Customs Service Air Interdiction Coordination center (DAICC), received notification from a park ranger at Big Bend National Park, TX, of an unidentified airplane entering the United States from Mexico. This airplane did not notify U.S. authorities of its arrival. A U.S. Customs Service aircraft was dispatched, and it intercepted the airplane near […]

1998 – N173VE – Cory Howe – Velocity SE/FG – Little Rock, AR – 2

The experimental homebuilt airplane was destroyed when it impacted trees following a loss of engine power during the takeoff/initial climb. Several witnesses reported that the engine sputtered then it lost power. Post-accident metallurgical examination revealed radial and circumferential cracks on the valve seat head of the #3 exhaust valve. The combustion chamber face of the […]

1997 – N907ME – Mark Ewart – Florence, SC – Velocity SE/RG – 4

Following departure from an en route fuel and rest stop, the pilot reported a propeller problem and returned to the departure airport. The propeller was disassembled to repair what the pilot reported was a failure of the electrical pitch change for the propeller blades. According to witnesses, who saw and talked with the pilot as […]

1997 – N444BG -Bob Van Horn – Velocity SE/RG – Goodyear, AZ – 1

While cruising at 4,000 feet during a personal flight, the pilot reported to the air traffic controller that he was about 10 miles from the airport, was experiencing an engine problem, and was declaring an emergency. About 1 minute later, he stated that he had a ‘fire on board.’ The pilot made a forced landing […]

1992 – N141NH – Neil Hunter – Velocity SE/FG – Apopka, FL – 1

Neil was previously the pilot in this accident. Neil’s Velocity was the first kit-built Velocity, and was featured in the July 1987 issue of Sport Aviation. They also later covered his crash in the December 1992 edition (page 5). The homebuilt velocity & a boeing 727 were both operating in the tca in vmc with […]