# NTSB CEN26LA297: Aeroprakt Manufacturing SP Zoo A22LS, N22FC, Searcy, AR, August 17, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 17, 2026, 14:58 local (19:58 UTC)
- Place: Searcy, AR
- Coordinates: 35.208279, -91.73823
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2083&lon=-91.7382&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 8, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Little Rock FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203647
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA297
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203647/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203647
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA297

## Probable cause

The flight instructor’s failure to maintain airplane control during landing in gusting wind conditions.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Aeroprakt Manufacturing SP Zoo A22LS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=06001A0), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeroprakt Manufacturing SP Zoo A22LS, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=06001A0), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeroprakt Manufacturing SP Zoo A22LS, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=06001A0), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeroprakt Manufacturing SP Zoo A22LS, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=06001A0), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-landing roll: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeroprakt Manufacturing SP Zoo A22LS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=06001A0), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor reported that during the instructional flight, a thunderstorm developed in the area so they returned to the airport. About five miles from the airport, he obtained the weather information and noted the wind was from 210° at 7 knots, but the wind speed increased as they approached the airport. On short final the airplane encountered an unexpected windshear, which resulted in a significant sink rate. Airport surveillance video of the accident revealed that the airplane touched down with the right main landing gear first, then veered to the left side of the runway and into the grass. As he applied full power to go around, a gust of wind lifted the right wing, the left wing struck the ground, and the airplane spun left about 360°. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N22FC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N22FC), registered now, S/N 373, built 2020 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROPRAKT MANUFACTURING SP ZOO A22LS
- Registry model: [Aeroprakt Manufacturing SP Zoo A22LS](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeroprakt-manufacturing-sp-zoo-a22ls) (registry code 06001A0) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 373
- Year built: 2020
- Airframe hours: 2351
- Engines: ROTAX 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Flying C Aviation, doing business as Flying C Aviation
- Registered owner: Blackhawk Holding Corp
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 22, 2026
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: SRC, Searcy Rgnl, runway 01/19, 6,008 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Onboard weather, Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 3, 2025; seat: right; flight hours: 1,093 total, 37 in this make and model, 1,032 as pilot in command, 275 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 7 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observed at: KSRC
- METAR: KSRC 171956Z AUTO 22007G16KT 190V260 10SM +TSRA FEW024 OVC060 24/21 A3007 RMK AO2 PK WND 28030/1927 WSHFT 1917 LTG DSNT ALQDS TSB08RAE01B21 SLP177 P0012 T02390206 $=

## 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 20260817012579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260817012579A), Aug 17, 2026: Aeroprakt Manufacturing Sp Zoo A22LS, Searcy, AR, Substantial damage. The pic/cfi was conducting a training flight with a student. Prior to the flight, the weather briefing from aviationweather. Gov showed no concerning weather…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 8, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203647. 9.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20915932&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N22FC%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20851386&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA297%20Photos-Rel.pdf
- Video file (item 3, MP4, 5.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20915675&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=KARK%204%20News%20-%20N22FC%20Video-Rel.mp4

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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