Fatal NTSB investigations: Rotax 503 series

13 cases on aircraft whose registry engine model is Rotax 503 series. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Cases per year

20082026
Fatal NTSB investigations: Rotax 503 series per year, 2008–2026: 13 cases
20083
20093
20101
20111
20122
20151
20181
20251

Latest cases

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE c.\"highestInjuryLevel\" = 'Fatal'
    AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.engine_model_code IN ('55564'))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

NTSB CEN25LA229Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportRans S-14 · Guthrie, OKOn June 30, 2025, about 2054 central daylight time, a Rans S-14 airplane, N981CS, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Guthrie, Oklahoma. The non-certificated pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14…Jul 1, 2025 · N981CS · Substantial damageNTSB ERA18LA188Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportNorthwing 17 · Section, ALThe noncertificated pilot's failure to maintain control of the weight-shift-control aircraft during an aborted landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of flight experience in the aircraft.Jul 9, 2018 · N959RR · Substantial damageNTSB WPR15FA140Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportQuicksilver Enterprises MXL II · Petaluma, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and structural failure. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment from his use of diphenhydramine.Apr 3, 2015 · N476VB · DestroyedNTSB ERA12LA537Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportQuad City Ultralights Challenger II · Ocala, FLThe pilot's inadvertent overstress of the airplane, which resulted in the in-flight separation of the outer section of the right wing.Aug 30, 2012 · N2481P · Substantial damageNTSB ERA12FA387Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPhillips William L Challenger · Plant City, FLThe non-certificated pilot’s loss of control during approach and landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of both total and recent flight experience.Jun 9, 2012 · N2571T · Substantial damageNTSB ERA11LA263Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportSolo Wings Windlass Aquilla · Starke, FLThe pilot's loss of airplane control while taxiing, which resulted in the weight-shift-controlled airplane becoming inadvertently airborne and subsequently impacting the ground. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in the make and…Apr 23, 2011 · N94370 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR10LA292Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAir Creation GTE · Springville, UTThe pilot's inadequate preflight planning and his failure to maintain clearance from obstacles during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience.Jun 14, 2010 · N227EH · Substantial damageNTSB WPR09LA453Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportQuad City Challenger II · Redlands, CAStructural failure of the right wing during the landing approach due to the separation of the wing's fabric covering.Sep 16, 2009 · N732LS · Substantial damageNTSB ERA09LA492Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBond Neal O S-9 · Saylorsburg, PAThe pilot’s excessive flight control inputs that resulted in an overload failure of the right elevator and horizontal stabilizer.Aug 30, 2009 · N463NB · Substantial damageNTSB WPR09LA130Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportToland S/Thornburgh J Twin 503SL · Torrance, CAThe passenger’s inadvertent activation of the engine throttle.Feb 27, 2009 · N426MT · Substantial damageNTSB ERA09LA013Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportSabre Tukan · Mohawk, TNThe pilot's loss of control in flight due to a lack of flight experience or instruction. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment due to the recent use of marijuana and a prescription painkiller.Oct 12, 2008 · N75604 · Substantial damageNTSB ANC09FA003Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAntonovich Anton B Challenger II · Chugiak, AKThe pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering, resulting in an in-flight collision with trees. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience.Oct 3, 2008 · N7511J · Substantial damageNTSB LAX08LA181Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAirborne Edge · Dunn, NCThe student pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during a go-around.Jun 14, 2008 · N9393S · Substantial damage