CEN24LA283

NTSB accident investigation · Evektor-Aerotechnik A S Harmony LSA · Cahokia Heights, IL · July 24, 2024

Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal report
Date
July 24, 2024, 11:03 local (16:03 UTC)
Place
Cahokia Heights, IL
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N468JAEvektor-Aerotechnik A S Harmony LSA
Defining event
Landing: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
Investigation class
Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
FAA/Federal Aviation
FAA report
20240724014479A
Case key
194761

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 student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing rollout that resulted in a lateral runway excursion and impact with a runway sign.

Findings · 1

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.

Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause

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

The flight instructor reported that his student was to perform three takeoffs and three landings as part of an initial solo flight requirement toward a private pilot certificate with an airplane single engine land rating. Prior to the initial solo flight, the student pilot performed four takeoff and four landings with his flight instructor. On the approach for fourth landing the flight instructor instructed the student pilot to perform a full stop landing, and to then taxi back to the airport ramp. The student pilot completed the full stop landing and taxied the airplane to the ramp where the flight instructor provided a solo endorsement and told the student pilot to perform two or three landings at his own pace. The flight instructor then exited the airplane. The student pilot then performed two touch and go landings followed by a third landing, during which the airplane bounced to the right. The student pilot applied corrective control inputs and recovered the airplane from the bounced landing. However, during the subsequent landing rollout and as the student pilot attempted to turn onto a taxiway, the airplane departed the runway laterally and impacted a runway sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to left wing. There was no reported preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft

Registration
N468JA
Reported as
Evektor-Aerotechnik A S Harmony LSA
Category
Airplane
Serial number
20232219
Built
2023
Airframe hours
76
Engine
Rotax 912 IS2 Sport, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
St Louis Flight Training LLC
Registered owner
St Louis Flight Training LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
Last inspection
Condition · April 1, 2024
Destination
Same as departure
Airport
CPS · St Louis Downtown Airport, runway 12L, 5,301 × 75 ft, concrete
Equipment
Stall warning system

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
37
Injuries
None
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Restraint
4-point
Flight hours
21.9 total · 21.9 in this make and model · 21.9 in the last 90 days · 15.7 in the last 30 days · 1.4 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
84 °F, dew point 72 °F
Altimeter
30.15 inHg
Observed at
CPS
METAR
KCPS 241553Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 29/22 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP205 T02890217

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 12, 2024, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.1 MB 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.