- Date
- September 1, 2013, 09:45 local (14:45 UTC)
- Place
- Osage Beach, MO
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N407EVEvektor-Aerotechnik Sportstar
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 21, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- FAA report
- 20130901019139A
- Case key
- 87957
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during initial climb in gusty wind conditions.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
Prior to departure, the pilot checked the weather and noted a storm was moving toward the area, and determined he needed to depart as soon as possible. During takeoff and while in ground effect, the airplane encountered a gust of wind that pushed the airplane’s left wing down. The pilot regained control and continued to initiate a climb in order to clear trees that were located near the end of the runway. The airplane encountered another gust of wind and the pilot attempted to compensate for the wind gust. Subsequently, the airplane impacted trees and terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot stated there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
Prior to departure, the pilot checked the weather and noted a storm was moving toward the area, so he needed to depart as soon as possible. During takeoff and while in ground effect, the airplane encountered a gust of wind that pushed the airplane’s left wing down. The pilot regained control and continued to initiate a climb in order to clear trees that were located near the end of the runway. The airplane encountered another gust of wind and the pilot attempted to compensate for the wind gust. Subsequently, the airplane impacted trees and terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot stated there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N407EV
- Reported as
- Evektor-Aerotechnik Sportstar
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20050407
- Engine
- reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Departed
- Osage Beach, MO
- Destination
- SET · Saint Charles, MO
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Sport Pilot
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Sport pilot, Unknown
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 70 total · 65 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 25, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 53 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.