N28KJ

On May 14, 1996, about 1515 eastern daylight time, a Velocity 173, experimental, homebuilt airplane, N28KJ, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91, personal, local flight, crashed in the vicinity of Pembroke Pines, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed, and the private pilot was seriously injured.

Just after takeoff on runway 9L, at the North Perry Airport, the airplane's engine lost power, and the pilot declared an emergency. Witnesses reported hearing a "loud pop" before the power loss. A witness wrote that shortly after the power loss, "within 2 seconds the aircraft appeared to go into a the initial stage of a stall, the wings dipped slightly from side to side twice and the[n] appeared that the pilot attempted to do an immediate turnaround, heading north into the wind." The airplane struck the roof of a private residence, and then the ground. No injuries were reported on the ground.

The pilot could not remember much about the accident due to his injuries. According to his statement written on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, "engine went out on take off at approximately 100 feet. While trying to land on [a] road [the] landing gear struck [the] roof of [a] house."

Refueling records showed that the pilot had put 10 gallons of fuel in the airplane before this flight.

On May 17, 1996, the airplane's engine was test run at Certified Engines, Inc., Opa Locka, Florida. After fixing a crack in the fuel servo adapter mounting flange and adjusting the idle mixture, the engine ran without any discrepancies observed.