# NTSB ERA26LA258: Portzline Joan M Flight Star II SC, N432JP, Mulberry, FL, July 4, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: July 4, 2026, 11:21 local (15:21 UTC)
- Place: Mulberry, FL
- Coordinates: 27.928622, -82.039632 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9286&lon=-82.0396&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203314
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA258
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203314/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA258

## Preliminary report

On July 4, 2026, about 1121 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Flight Star II SC airplane, N432JP, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Mulberry, Florida. The private pilot and a passenger were seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that he fueled the airplane, performed a preflight inspection, and completed a safety briefing with the passenger. He started the engine and taxied to the runway where he completed an engine runup and a flight control systems check, noting that all instrument indications were normal. He communicated his intentions to take off on runway 14 and began his takeoff roll. The pilot rotated the airplane at 60 mph and established a positive rate of climb. Suddenly, the airplane started to descend. He described the feeling like being on an elevator. The pilot stated that he had felt this before at a neighboring airport during landing. Powerlines obstructed the direction of flight, and unable to climb above the obstruction, the pilot turned the airplane to the right attempting to fly between the poles. The right wing contacted a wire, before the airplane descended and impacted the ground. The airplane came to rest on a roadway on its side and incurred substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. A witness, who was also a pilot, observed the takeoff. He stated that the airplane appeared to maintain a reduced rate of climb relative to its observed pitch attitude. As the airplane passed abeam his position, it began to descend. Throughout the observed sequence, he did not perceive any changes in engine sound. The wreckage was recovered and retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Portzline Joan M FLIGHT STAR II SC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=05904KU), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N432JP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N432JP), registered now, S/N 4219, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PORTZLINE JOAN M FLIGHT STAR II SC
- Registry model: [Portzline Joan M FLIGHT STAR II SC](https://openairdocs.org/model/portzline-joan-m-flight-star-ii-sc) (registry code 05904KU) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 582UL DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ul-dcdi) (registry code 55563, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 4219
- Year built: 2002
- Airframe hours: 567
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, November 28, 2025, 56 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: X49, South Lakeland Airport
- Equipment: ADS-B, Handheld GPS

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,700 ft broken
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 77 °F
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observed at: KLAL, 4 nm away
- METAR: METAR KLAL 041450Z 00000KT 10SM BKN027 31/25 A3007=

## 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 20260704008359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260704008359A), Jul 4, 2026: Portzline Joan M FLIGHT STAR II SC, Mulberry, FL, Destroyed. I started out by refueling the aircraft and then a preflight inspection was performed including a passenger safety briefing. Engine was started and all coms…

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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