Amateur-built Laser IV-P accident near Port O'Connor, Texas, July 3, 2011
On July 3, 2011 at about 3:25 pm local time, a amateur-built Laser IV-P, registered N11001, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Port O'Connor, Texas (Pierce Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of airplane control for reasons that could not be determined from the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 2011 · about 3:25 pm local time
- Place
- Port O'Connor, Texas · Pierce Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Laser IV-P
- Registration
- N11001 · no longer on the register · serial 153
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness saw the airplane take off and make a slow climbing left 180-degree turn to about 3,000 feet above ground level (agl). The airplane then made a sharp 180-degree left turn as if it was returning to the airport. The wings were leveled, and the airplane made a snap roll, entered a dive, spun once, and impacted the water. Another witness saw the airplane pass overhead about 500 to 600 feet agl. He heard the engine make a series of pops, and the airplane then rolled 360 degrees, leveled off, then abruptly rolled left and dove vertically into the water. Postaccident examination of the airframe revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The engine was disassembled and examined, and no anomalies were found that would have precluded it from developing power.
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
- Abrupt maneuver during initial climb
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb 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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,160 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 18, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550- (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 72TA Port O'Connor TX at 3:20 pm
- Destination: AUS Austin TX
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 1,100 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from RKP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.