Evektor-Aerotechnik As SPORTSTAR PLUS accident near Elyria, Ohio, May 30, 2013
On May 30, 2013 at about 1:00 am local time, a Evektor-Aerotechnik As SPORTSTAR PLUS, registered N319SV, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Elyria, Ohio (Lorain County Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the canopy latch spring, which caused the canopy to open during initial climb. Contributing to the accident was the installation of an improper part in the canopy latch assembly, which led to the failure of the canopy latch spring.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 2013 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Elyria, Ohio · Lorain County Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Evektor-Aerotechnik As SPORTSTAR PLUS · all SPORTSTAR PLUSs on the register
- Registration
- N319SV · registry record · serial 20070916
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During initial takeoff climb after performing a touch-and-go landing, the airplane's canopy opened to the forward position. The pilot landed the aircraft on the remaining runway; however, the airplane departed the end of the runway, struck a landing threshold light, and came to rest upright. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the canopy latch spring had failed. In addition, the spring mounting plate used to hold the spring in position did not have a relief area machined into the plate that was required for the correct operation of the spring. The spring and assembly had been installed approximately 32 hours prior to the accident.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during initial climb
- Part(s) separation from AC during initial climb defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Doors › Passenger/crew doors › Failure
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Doors › Passenger/crew doors › Incorrect service/maintenance
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 541 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 431 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 19, 2011
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,363.5 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 15, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 1,368 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KLPR Elyria OH
- Destination: KLPR Elyria OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 5,002 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 11:52 pm from LPR
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN13LA308.