# NTSB CEN22LA015: Zuber Thomas P Zuber Super Drifter, N70TZ, Horseshoe Bay, TX, October 9, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 8, 2021, 19:11 local (Oct 9, 2021, 00:11 UTC)
- Place: Horseshoe Bay, TX
- Coordinates: 30.566582, -98.394558 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5666&lon=-98.3946&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104117
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA015
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104117/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104117
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA015

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to adequately monitor airspeed during a low-level turn, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with the water.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Zuber Thomas P ZUBER SUPER DRIFTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05615UE), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Zuber Thomas P ZUBER SUPER DRIFTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05615UE), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Zuber Thomas P ZUBER SUPER DRIFTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=05615UE), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md)
- [Terrain: water](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Zuber Thomas P ZUBER SUPER DRIFTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020/cases.md?model=05615UE), [All aircraft, 97 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Zuber Thomas P ZUBER SUPER DRIFTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05615UE), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was overflying a lake when he noticed something floating on the water and turned the airplane around to get a better look. During the turn at low altitude, the airspeed diminished, and the airplane’s wing stalled. The airplane descended and impacted the water nosing over and coming to rest inverted. The airplane’s fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N70TZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N70TZ), registered now, S/N LA1022, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ZUBER THOMAS P ZUBER SUPER DRIFTER
- Registry model: [Zuber Thomas P ZUBER SUPER DRIFTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/zuber-thomas-p-zuber-super-drifter) (registry code 05615UE) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: LA1022
- Year built: 2003
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Departed: 44TE, Kingsland, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observed at: KDZB, 2 nm away
- METAR: METAR KDZB 090055Z AUTO 16004KT 10SM CLR 25/14 A3002 RMK AO2 T02540141=

## 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 20211008017439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211008017439A), Oct 8, 2021: Zuber Thomas P ZUBER SUPER DRIFTER, Granite Shoals, TX, Substantial damage. At approximately 1800 hrs an 10/08/2021. Pilot took off from runway 16 at shirley williams airport (44TE) to fly over lake lbj. The pilot had flown about 30…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 5, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104117. 573 KB in all.

- Pilot's statement (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 308 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12977257&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 265 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12976892&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.

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