2002 – N335BH – Bill Halfacre – Velocity SE/FG – Cleveland, TX – 0

As the pilot was beginning his flare prior to touchdown, he encountered a strong gust of wind which resulted in a high rate of descent. The airplane impacted the ground 48 feet short of the runway, where the left main landing gear separated. Subsequently, the airplane slid 234 feet down the runway on its […]

2001 – N658SE – Bob Wood – Velocity XL/FG – Sebastian, FL – 0

“BOB1” – Courtesy of Fred Kerfoot, via Andy Millin. Factory crash at Sebastian of a builder’s aircraft, from the head-start program. This was the first flight of the so-called “Brazilian” wings, which where built hollow (no foam cores) with ribs by some firm in Brazil (obviously). The wings were not properly built, as it turns […]

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 […]

1999 – N137V – Raymond Flade – Velocity SE/FG – Santa Monica, CA – 0

The pilot was on a return flight back to the airport, and after obtaining the ATIS, he made a right traffic pattern for runway 21. ATIS reported winds at 240 degrees and 12 knots. The pilot said that during the landing sequence just as the landing gear were about to touchdown, there was a strong […]

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 […]