- Date
- June 28, 2019, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place
- Coward, SC
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- UNREGFlightstar Sportplanes Flightstar II
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 13, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- Case key
- 99740
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 noncertificated pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during the initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Findings · 5
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 noncertificated pilot reported that, during the initial climb after takeoff from an off-airport field, he decided to turn the airplane toward more favorable terrain to continue the climb. He added that the airplane then encountered a quartering tailwind, and about 30 ft above ground level, it aerodynamically stalled and then impacted a pole and terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that the airplane was near its gross takeoff weight but that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The noncertificated pilot reported that, during the initial climb after takeoff from an off-airport field, he decided to turn the unregistered aircraft toward more favorable terrain to continue the climb. He added that the airplane then encountered a quartering tailwind, and about 30 ft above ground aerodynamically stalled, and impacted a pole and terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that the airplane was near gross takeoff weight, but there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station, located 12 miles east of the accident, reported that, about 43 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 090° at 8 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, clear skies, temperature 33°C (91°F), dew point 18°C (64°F). The pilot departed the aircraft to the west.
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- Flightstar Sportplanes Flightstar II
- Category
- Ultralight, amateur-built
- Serial number
- Unknown
- Engine
- Rotax 503, 53 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- None
- Departed
- PVT · Coward, SC
- Destination
- PVT · Coward, SC
- Airport
- PVT · private
- Equipment
- Unknown
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 17
- Injuries
- Minor
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 91 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.19 inHg
- Observed at
- KFLO, 12 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 23, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.7 MB in all.