Aero Bristell BRISTELL LSA N438BL

Summary

On 18 October 2020 at about 18:00 local time, a Aero Bristell BRISTELL LSA registered N438BL was involved in an accident near Carlisle, Pennsylvania, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 October 2020 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Carlisle, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Carlisle Airport (N94)

Coordinates

40.1886, -77.1782

Aircraft

Aero Bristell BRISTELL LSA

Registration

N438BL

Category

Airplane

Year built

2019

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Reedsville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA21LA025

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees during an attempted go-around in gusty crosswinds.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was approaching the airport for landing, and while on short final approach he noticed that the airplane was too high and that there were variable and gusty crosswinds. The pilot decided to conduct a go-around. The pilot added power and pressed the control stick forward to prevent the airplane from pitching up as it gained airspeed. The pilot’s next recollection was seeing tree branches and the airplane descending in a nose down attitude into the woods. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.