# NTSB CEN14CA499: Evektor-Aerotechnik Sportstar, N800NW, Newark, IL, September 12, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 12, 2014, 15:44 local (20:44 UTC)
- Place: Newark, IL
- Coordinates: 41.523887, -88.604721 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5239&lon=-88.6047&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report February 11, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90093
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA499
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90093/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90093
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA499

## Probable cause

The student pilot did not maintain proper airspeed during the simulated emergency landing and failed to relinquish control to the flight instructor when the flight instructor attempted to intervene, which resulted in the loss of control. Contributing was the flight instructor's failure to properly monitor the student pilot, and the poor communication between the flight instructor and student pilot.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0600012), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0600012), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=0600012), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)
- [Communication (personnel): lack of communication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510/cases.md?model=0600012), [All aircraft, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510/cases.md)
- [Communication (personnel): lack of communication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510/cases.md?model=0600012), [All aircraft, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=0600012), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor reported that the student pilot made a normal takeoff from a turf runway. While the student pilot was flying the departure leg, the flight instructor initiated a simulated engine failure. During the student pilot's approach, the flight instructor noticed the airspeed deteriorate. The flight instructor stated that when he attempted to assume control of the airplane, the student pilot did not release the controls. A sink rate developed and the airplane struck a power line prior to the runway. During ground impact, both wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. The student pilot did not recall the accident sequence of events due to his injuries.

## Factual narrative

The flight instructor reported that the student pilot made a normal takeoff from a turf runway. While the student pilot was flying the departure leg, the flight instructor initiated a simulated engine failure. During the student pilot's approach, the flight instructor noticed the airspeed deteriorate. The flight instructor stated that when he attempted to assume control of the airplane, the student pilot did not release the controls. A sink rate developed and the airplane struck a power line prior to the runway. During ground impact, both wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. The student pilot did not recall the accident sequence of events due to his injuries.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N800NW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N800NW-2018-05-21), registration cancelled 2018-05-21, S/N 20070820, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EVEKTOR-AEROTECHNIK AS SPORTSTAR (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/evektor-aerotechnik-sportstar) (registry code 0600012) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20070820
- Year built: 2007
- Engines: Rotax 912US 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Ryan Boston
- Registered owner: Ryan Boston
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Departed: 0C8, Newark, IL
- Destination: 0C8, Newark, IL
- Airport: 0C8, Cushing Field Ltd Airport, runway 18, 2,831 × 180 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 33; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 22, 2013; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,720 total, 800 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; injuries: serious; student; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 32 total, 32 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,300 ft overcast
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observed at: KARR, 16 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20140912017289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140912017289A), Sep 12, 2014: Evektor-Aerotechnik As SPORTSTAR, Sheridan, IL, Destroyed. On September 12, 2014, the pilot in command of N800NW, an Evektor Sportstar, a light aircraft, departed Cushing field (08C) in Illinois on a training flight.…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 4, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90093. 2.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422167&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422173&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Flight Path from Witness Perspective (item 3, .PDF, 221 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422169&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Path%20from%20Witness%20Perspective-Master.PDF
- Photos of Accident From FAA (item 4, .PDF, 4 photos, 372 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422170&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20of%20Accident%20From%20FAA-Master.PDF
- Correspondence with Student Pilot (item 5, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422171&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20with%20Student%20Pilot-Master.PDF

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.