• More Blogs
• Observations »
• Bering in Mind »
• Cross-check »
• Extinction Countdown »
• Solar at Home »
• Expeditions »
• Guest Blog »
• Anecdotes from the Archive »

An experimental, build-it-yourself Velocity 173 RG aircraft crashed into the living room of a house in Las Vegas Friday morning shortly after takeoff from the North Las Vegas airport, killing the pilot and two people inside the home, the AP reports. The pilot and one resident of the house died at the crash site, while the other died after being taken to University Medical Center in Las Vegas. The names of the victims have not been released.

The AP reports the Velocity that crashed was certified for flight by the FAA in 2002. The Velocity—which costs between $55,000 and $150,000 depending on the kit—is constructed in sections and can be dismantled by removing about 10 bolts and some screws. The maximum width of the fuselage, without the wings attached, is 12 feet.
 
The Velocity's body is made from fiberglass and can be built without power tools, such as spray guns, sanders, saws, or an air compressor, the company's Web site says. Even with a larger engine, the company's recommended load is about 1,100 pounds (with 70 gallons of fuel on board, that leaves 580 pounds for passengers and luggage). The more the plane is weighted down, the more runway it needs for takeoff and landing.

The company's Web site claims it has "never had any type of structural failure in the Velocity." The site further says that most of the accidents or incidents in the Velocity are "of the fender bender variety where a small amount of damage and no injuries occur" but still encourages builders to have their aircraft checked at a Velocity facility prior to the first flight.

The Velocity's crash comes less than two weeks after a homebuilt Titan Tornado ultralight aircraft—capable of hitting 90 mph—crashed into an oncoming car after landing on the highway near San Bernardino County’s Mojave Valley. The pilot successfully executed an emergency landing onto the roadway but collided with the car when he tried to take off again.

(Image courtesy of Velocity, Inc.)

6 Comments

1. 1. LSAguy 10:30 PM 8/22/08

   What exactly is the purpose of this article, to teach us how to build a Velocity? There is exactly zero information about what caused the accident. No information about the pilot, contacts with the tower, or any other information worthy of bothering with an article. Really, I expect a lot more of SciAm than this.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

2. 2. bullzeye in reply to LSAguy 04:08 AM 8/23/08

   I does seem this article is too general to be in print. I thought I was reading CNN online since this is the brief junk they air. If you want to bring up kit planes as an issue then make a point with facts. I agree with the other LSAGUY.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

3. 3. solarone 07:06 AM 8/23/08

   I agree with both previous comments. SciAm further disappoints by pointing out the crash of an ultralight two weeks before in a different state. The two aircraft and incidents are in no way related - why didn't they bring up the airline crash in Madrid as well?

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

4. 4. painter 11:46 AM 8/23/08

   I like this part."The Velocity's body is made from fiberglass and can be built without power tools, such as spray guns, sanders, saws, or an air compressor, the company's Web site says." Sounds like a two year old wrote this. This really make the aircraft sound unsafe, whitch it's not. A composite A/C, is a very stronge and vey safe.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

5. 5. Hoturu in reply to LSAguy 10:38 AM 8/24/08

   I agree and concur, I could have gotten as much information about the plane crash from the manufacturers web site. If you didn't have any more information to provide about the accident say that or put the accident in context for the readers. How many fatal accidents in home builts compared to factory built per thousand hours operated?

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

6. 6. LaughingJaguar 12:41 PM 8/26/08

   I was a civilian technical inspector for the FAA doing pre-inspection of home built aircraft prior to an inspection by a staff member from the engineering office.
   
   I've built a Long-EZ, a Burt Rutan design, from which the Velocity was copied so I am familiar with both the structure and it's construction.
   
   This news item shares all the properties that most others contain: which is to tell just enough of the truth to distort it completely. It's a covert attempt to throw dirt, nothing else.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this