# Accident 20210727012009A: Stephen L Kruer SUPERSTOL, Floyds Knobs, IN, July 27, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 27, 2021, 10:45 local time
- Place: Floyds Knobs, IN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.3460° N, 85.8697° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3460&lon=-85.8697&mi=10
- Aircraft: N852SK, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N852SK-2022-01-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Stephen L Kruer SUPERSTOL (registry code 05635NG, https://openairdocs.org/model/stephen-l-kruer-superstol) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STEPHEN L KRUER SUPERSTOL
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 477 total, 94 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA340](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA340) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210727012009A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON JULY 27, 2021 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:45 AM EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME (EDT), A JA30 SUPERSTOL AIRCRAFT (N852SK) SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AFTER CONTACTING A TREE TOP AND SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTING THE GROUND IN FLOYDS KNOBS, INDIANA. THE AIRCRAFT WAS REGISTERED TO STEPHEN KRUER OF FLOYDS KNOBS, INDIANA. A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED NOR REQUIRED FOR THIS FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED FROM SALEM MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (KI83) IN SALEM, INDIANA WITH THE FINAL DESTINATION BEING A PRIVATE LANDING STRIP AT THE PILOT?S RESIDENCE IN FLOYDS KNOBS, INDIANA.

A STATEMENT FROM THE PILOT WAS TAKEN ON AUGUST 4, 2021 AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM THE MEDICAL FACILITY FOR SERIOUS INJURIES AS A RESULT FROM THE ACCIDENT ON JULY 27, 2021. THE PILOT STATED AFTER HAVING TIME TO REFLECT ON THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, HIS INITIAL STATEMENT TO THE ON-SIGHT POLICE OFFICER WAS INACCURATE. THE PILOT STATED HE INACCURATELY TOLD THE POLICE OFFICER HE THOUGHT THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT STATED HE PROBABLY MADE THAT STATEMENT TO THE OFFICER DUE TO THE AIRCRAFT NO LONGER CLIMBING IN ALTITUDE AFTER HE HEARD A ?THUMP?.

THE PILOT CONTINUED TO STATE IT WAS A RETURN FLIGHT FROM PERFORMING A BI-ANNUAL FLIGHT REVIEW. DURING THE RETURN TO THE PILOT?S PRIVATE LANDING STRIP, THE PILOT STATED INSTEAD OF HIS NORMAL APPROACH FROM EAST TO WEST INTO THE LANDING STRIP, HE DECIDED TO APPROACH FROM WEST TO EAST. THE PILOT STATED HE FELT HIS APPROACH ALTITUDE WAS TOO HIGH TO LAND SAFELY AND DECIDED TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB FOR THE GO-AROUND, THE PILOT STATED HE FELT A ?THUMP? NEAR THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR BELIEVING HE MAY HAVE STRUCK THE TOP OF A TREE. THE PILOT RECALLED FEELING THE AIRCRAFT IMMEDIATELY TURN TO THE LEFT AND WAS NO LONGER CLIMBING IN ALTITUDE. HE RECALLED THE PROPELLER MAKING A GRINDING NOISE AND THE AIRCRAFT COMING TO A HALT IN THE TREE TOP. THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN THE TREE TOP FOR A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND NOSE FIRST.

A NEIGHBOR TO THE PILOT?S RESIDENCE WITNESSED THE EVENT WHILE BEING OUTSIDE IN HER YARD. THE WITNESS STATED THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT POWERED UP IMMEDIATLEY FOLLOWED BY THE AIRCRAFT MAKING AN UNUSUAL SOUND, ?LIKE A LAWN MOWER HITTING SOMETHING? AND THEN DID NOT HEAR THE ENGINE RUNNING ANY LONGER. THE WITNESS CLAIMED TO SEE AND HEAR THIS AIRPLANE OFTEN DUE TO BEING A NEIGHBOR IN CLOSE PROXIMTY TO THE PILOT?S RESIDENCE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN21LA340](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA340), Jul 27, 2021: Stephen L Kruer Superstol (N852SK), Floyds Knobs, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the trees during a go-around.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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