Pilot Debrief

Quad City Challenger near Castroville, TX — 2012-10-23

Final reportCEN13LA029
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Date
2012-10-23
Location
Castroville, TX, USA
Aircraft
Quad City Challenger
Registration
UNREG
Category
Ultralight
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot’s steep 180-degree turn to final approach for landing, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and spin at an altitude from which he could not recover.

NTSB narrative

Witnesses saw the airplane make a low pass over a private airstrip then make a steep 180-degree left turn back to final approach for landing. During the turn, the airplane entered a steep nose down descent and made at least one-half spin to the left before impacting the ground. Such observations are consistent with an aerodynamic stall.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided tight turn to final approach to prevent stall.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

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