Amateur-built HAWK SSC accident near Evansville, Indiana, June 29, 2012
On June 29, 2012 at about 1:00 pm local time, a amateur-built HAWK SSC, registered N163F, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Evansville, Indiana (Skylane 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 operation of an airplane by a non-certificated pilot, and the pilot's loss of control during takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and spin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 2012 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Evansville, Indiana · Skylane Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built HAWK SSC
- Registration
- N163F · no longer on the register · serial H-SSC-424-503-TRI
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-certificated pilot reported that during the initial climb after takeoff, he heard a loud “pop” and then the airplane began to shake. The pilot lost control of the airplane, which entered a spin and impacted terrain. The pilot reported a potential propeller defect; however, a postaccident examination did not detect any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The source of the loud “pop” could not be 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 initial climb defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot
Pilot
- Flight time: 25 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 170 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 22, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 625 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 DCDI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K3EV Evansville IN at 1:00 pm
- Destination: K3EV Evansville IN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 12:54 pm from KEVV
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.