Frank Lowell C PIETENPOL N497AR

Summary

On 18 April 2025 at about 16:52 local time, a Frank Lowell C PIETENPOL registered N497AR was involved in an accident near Taylorsville, North Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one 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 April 2025 at 16:52

Classification

Accident

Location

Taylorsville, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Crossroads Grill Airstrip (PVT)

Coordinates

35.8335, -81.2314

Aircraft

Frank Lowell C PIETENPOL

Registration

N497AR

Category

Airplane

Year built

1999

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lenoir → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA25LA183

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during an attempted go around in gusty tailwind conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the winds were calm during approach, but as the airplane arrived on final approach to land, the wind velocity increased significantly and changed direction. After feeling a strong tailwind, the pilot attempted to perform a go-around and turned the airplane to the right to avoid powerlines and trees. After leveling the airplane’s wings, and while at a height of about 20 ft above the ground, another tailwind gust struck the airplane and the right wing encountered an aerodynamic stall. The airplane’s right wing and nose subsequently impacted the ground before coming to rest in a nearly vertical attitude. The airplane’s wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.