Aerolite BEARCAT accident near Mineola, Texas, September 15, 2010
On September 15, 2010 at about 12:20 pm local time, a Aerolite BEARCAT (ultralight), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Mineola, Texas. It was flown under rules the NTSB did not record. 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the oil injection pump resulting in a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 15, 2010 · about 12:20 pm local time
- Place
- Mineola, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerolite BEARCAT
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial UNK
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · rules the NTSB did not record
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-certificated pilot was flying an unregistered light sport airplane when the airplane experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot stated that he attempted to deploy the ballistic parachute but was unable due to the parachute's safety ring not being properly attached. The pilot then attempted to perform a forced landing to a field but inadvertently stalled the airplane. The airplane impacted terrain, resulting in substantial damage. A postaccident examination revealed that the engine's oil injection pump failed and that the safety ring for the parachute had vibrated loose. The engine was not being maintained by a maintenance inspection program and maintenance documents were not available.
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
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng oil sys › Failure
Pilot
- Flight time: 108 hours in all; 108 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 700 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Mineola TX
- Destination: Mineola TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:25 pm from JDD
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 UNREG 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.