Amateur-built AVENTURA II accident near Griffith, Indiana, May 2, 2009
On May 2, 2009 at about 12:40 pm local time, a amateur-built AVENTURA II, registered N20GH, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Griffith, Indiana (Griffith-Merrillville airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane due to an inadvertent stall. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the airspeed indicator due to separation of the pitot-static line at the left wing root.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 2009 · about 12:40 pm local time
- Place
- Griffith, Indiana · Griffith-Merrillville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AVENTURA II
- Registration
- N20GH · no longer on the register · serial AA2A0123
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the airspeed indicator failed during takeoff. He elected to continue the takeoff because there was insufficient distance to stop on the remaining runway. The pilot intended to remain in the traffic pattern and return for landing. However, as the pilot turned to left crosswind the airplane became difficult to control, pitched down and impacted the ground. A post accident examination revealed that the tubing from the pitot tube was disconnected from a mating length of tubing located at the left wing root. The left wing root structure was intact and impact damage did not appear to have contributed to the pitot static system discontinuity. No other anomalies associated with a pre-impact failure were observed.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Flight instrument malf/fail during takeoff
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Navigation system › Airspeed/mach indicating › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Navigation system › Pitot/static system › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,790 hours in all; 140 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 1,732 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 140 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 26, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 1,430 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 05C Griffith IN at 12:38 pm
- Destination: 05C Griffith IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 4,900 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 12:40 pm from GYY, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N20GH the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.