- Date
- April 29, 2015, 18:10 local (Apr 30, 2015, 00:10 UTC)
- Place
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Uncontrolled descent
- Aircraft
- N344UAAero SP Z O O AT 4 LSA
- Defining event
- Uncontrolled descent: Loss of engine power (total)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 27, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20150429005659A
- Case key
- 91101
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 pilot's decision to perform aerobatic maneuvers in an airplane not certified for aerobatic flight, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with terrain.
Findings · 2
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.
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 (CFI) piloting the airplane reported he was not performing aerobatic maneuvers; however, a review of the onboard airplane video by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Safety Inspector revealed that the pilot had been performing aerobatic maneuvers in an airplane not certified for aerobatic flight. During the flight, the airplane entered a spin, descended uncontrolled, and impacted a creek bank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine compartment, wings, fuselage, and tail section. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to flight, which would have prevented normal airplane operations. According to Aero Sp. Z.O.O AT-4 LSA Pilot Operating Handbook, aerobatics and intentional spins are prohibited.
Factual narrative
The Flight Instructor (CFI) piloting the airplane reported he was not performing aerobatic maneuvers; however, a review of the onboard airplane video by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Safety Inspector revealed that the pilot had been performing aerobatic maneuvers in an airplane not certified for aerobatic flight. During the flight, the airplane entered a spin, descended uncontrolled, and impacted a creek bank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine compartment, wings, fuselage, and tail section. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to flight, which would have prevented normal airplane operations. According to Aero Sp. Z.O.O AT-4 LSA Pilot Operating Handbook, aerobatics and intentional spins are prohibited.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N344UA
- Reported as
- Aero SP Z O O AT 4 LSA (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- AT4-019
- Built
- 2008
- Airframe hours
- 945
- Engine
- Bombardier Rotax 912ULS, 93 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Springs Aviation, doing business as Gobosh Aviation
- Registered owner
- Springs Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · February 27, 2015 · 44 hours before
- Departed
- KFLY · Peyton, CO
- Destination
- KFLY · Peyton, CO
- Equipment
- Stall warning system, Video recording device
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 7, 2014
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 5,100 total · 2 in this make and model · 4,800 as pilot in command · 50 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.07 inHg
- Observed at
- KFLY
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.9 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.