# NTSB GAA18CA394: Evektor Aerotechnik Sportstar, N902HB, Louisburg, NC, July 5, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 5, 2018, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Louisburg, NC - Coordinates: 36.032501, -78.317497 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0325&lon=-78.3175&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 5, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97703 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA394 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97703/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97703 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA394 ## Probable cause The student pilot's distraction due to a previous runway excursion and navigational issues during the accident flight and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the downwind leg, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=0600012), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=0600012), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0600012), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=0600012), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=0600012), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=0600012), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=0600012), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0600012), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that, after completing a touch-and-go landing without incident, during the takeoff, the airplane drifted left off the runway toward a wooded area. He attempted to slow and stop the airplane, but it struck a culvert, which "launched" the airplane back into the air. He then increased the engine power to full, pitched the nose up, flew the airplane back into the traffic pattern, and landed without further incident. After taking time to gather himself, the student took off again, this time to conduct a basic navigation exercise in the local area, but he became disoriented and used the airplane's GPS to return to the departure airport. The student stated that he was distracted during the downwind leg due to the previous runway excursion and the navigation issues he experienced during the accident flight and allowed the airspeed to decrease, which resulted in the airplane stalling. While making the turn to base, the student overcorrected with left rudder, which resulted in the airplane entering a spin and subsequently colliding with trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot reported that, during the initial climb, the airplane drifted off the runway to the left towards a wooded area. He attempted to slow and stop the airplane, but the airplane struck a culvert, which "launched" the airplane back into the air. He then increased the engine power to full, pitched the nose up, flew the airplane back into the traffic pattern and landed without further incident. After taking time to gather himself, he departed to conduct a basic navigation exercise in the local area, but became disoriented, and used the airplane's Global Positioning System (GPS) to return to the departure airport. Due to previous issues with touch-and-goes and navigation issues during the flight, the pilot was mentally distracted on downwind and allowed the airplane to slow. During the turn to base, the airplane stalled, and the pilot overcorrected. The airplane entered a spin and collided with trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N902HB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N902HB-2019-06-17), registration cancelled 2019-06-17, S/N 2006 0604, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Evektor Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR (No Series) - Registry model: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/evektor-aerotechnik-sportstar) (registry code 0600012) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2006 0604 - Year built: 2006 - Engines: Bombardier Rotax reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Total Flight Aircraft Leasing Llc - Registered owner: Total Flight Aircraft Leasing Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Departed: LHZ, Louisburg, NC - Destination: LHZ, Louisburg, NC - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: LHZ, Triangle North Executive, runway 23, 5,498 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 45; injuries: none; student; medical: without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 14 total, 14 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: KLHZ, 1 nm away ## 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 20180705009109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180705009109A), Jul 5, 2018: Evektor-Aerotechnik As SPORTSTAR, Louisburg, NC, Substantial damage. On Thursday, July 5, 2018, at approximately 15:30 EDT, a Evektor-Aerotechnik As, Sportstar, N902HB [privacy data omitted], crashed while turning from base to… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 11, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97703. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470928&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470929&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 3, .PDF, 3 photos, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470930&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-Master.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.