Amateur-built EUROPA accident near Shreveport, Louisiana, May 4, 2011
On May 4, 2011 at about 4:42 pm local time, a amateur-built EUROPA, registered N914KM, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Shreveport, Louisiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of aircraft control and subsequent impact with terrain for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 2011 · about 4:42 pm local time
- Place
- Shreveport, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built EUROPA
- Registration
- N914KM · no longer on the register · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Radar data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration depicted the accident airplane for about five minutes. According to a summary of the flight, the pilot requested taxi instructions at 1134, a takeoff clearance at 1137, and the controller issued a frequency change at 1142 to which there was no response from the pilot. The airplane initially climbed from 700 feet mean sea level (msl), to 1,200 feet msl on a north-northeasterly heading shortly after departing the local airport. Three minutes later, the airplane began to descend. The last two minutes of radar data depicted the airplane in a gradual descent from 1,200 feet mean sea level (msl) to 200 feet msl. Ground scars and damage to the airplane were consistent with a low airspeed and nose down attitude at the time of impact. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and empennage. A postaccident examination of the airframe, airplane systems, and engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. There were no witnesses to the accident. The reason for the loss of control was not determined.
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
- Loss of control in flight during enroute defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 283 hours in all; 28 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 23, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 289 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 26, 2010; 46 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Shreveport LA at 4:37 pm
- Destination: Shreveport LA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.38 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from KSHV
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.
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.