# NTSB ERA24LA296: Missoula Super Drifter, N692BS, Lafayette, TN, July 7, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 7, 2024, 16:35 local (21:35 UTC) - Place: Lafayette, TN - Coordinates: 36.520028, -86.058056 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5200&lon=-86.0581&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 194631 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA296 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194631/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194631 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA296 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during a go-around in gusting wind conditions. ## 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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Missoula SUPER DRIFTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056393V), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Missoula SUPER DRIFTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=056393V), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Missoula SUPER DRIFTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=056393V), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Missoula SUPER DRIFTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=056393V), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Missoula SUPER DRIFTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056393V), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Missoula SUPER DRIFTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=056393V), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and passenger reported that during the final approach to land, an unexpected gust of wind pushed the airplane toward the west side of the runway, near the precision approach path indicator lights and a hillside. As the pilot initiated a go-around, a stronger gust lifted the right wing, and the airplane rolled to the left. The airplane then encountered an aerodynamic stall while banked about 45 degrees, which continued to a 90-degree bank with a 45-degree nose-down pitch attitude. Due to the low altitude, the pilot was unable to recover, and the airplane impacted the airport ramp area, coming to rest inverted. The pilot was seriously injured and the airplane’s wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N692BS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N692BS), registered now, S/N SD 32621, built 2021 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MISSOULA AVIATION LLC SUPER DRIFTER - Registry model: [Missoula SUPER DRIFTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/missoula-super-drifter) (registry code 056393V) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: SD 32621 - Year built: 2021 - Airframe hours: 100 - Engines: Rotax 912 140 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 23, 2024, 15 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 3M7, Lafayette Muni, runway 01/19, 5,200 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: serious; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 40,000 total, 100 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KXNX, 19 nm away - METAR: METAR KXNX 072035Z AUTO 36005KT 10SM CLR 32/18 A3002 RMK A01 ## 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 20240707012099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240707012099A), Jul 7, 2024: Missoula Aviation LLC SUPER DRIFTER, Lafayette, TN, Substantial damage. On 06/07/2024 at 3:03 local time, the PIC of a Super Drifter was departing the Lafayette Municipal Airport (3M7) on runway 01. During departure the aircraft… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 20, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194631. 2.1 MB in all. - Memorandum for record - passenger and pilot statement (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18826163&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20LA296%20V1-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - FAA inspector statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18022863&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20FAA%20Statement%20LA296-Rel.pdf - Maintenance record excerpts (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18022615&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Condition,%20inspection,%20and%20engine%20data_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - weather information (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18022731&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=METARS%20LA296-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 593 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18022339&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos%20LA296-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. --- 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.