Quad City CHALLENGER UNREG

Summary

On 23 October 2012 at about 18:30 local time, a Quad City CHALLENGER registered UNREG, operated by James Leppert, was involved in an accident near Castroville, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 October 2012 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Castroville, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Private Residence (None)

Coordinates

29.4264, -98.9772

Aircraft

Quad City CHALLENGER

Registration

UNREG

Category

Ultralight

Engines

1

Operator

James Leppert

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Gonzales → Castroville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN13LA029

1 person died.

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full 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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.