Amateur-built ULTRA PUP accident near Belleville, Texas, October 7, 2013
On October 7, 2013 at about 6:45 pm local time, a 2013 amateur-built ULTRA PUP, registered N106KF, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Belleville, Texas. 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 pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle-of-attack while turning back to the airport instead of landing straight ahead following a partial loss of engine power, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control. The reason for the partial loss of engine power could be not determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 7, 2013 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Belleville, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ULTRA PUP 2, built 2013
- Registration
- N106KF · no longer on the register · serial 0042
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was taking off for a personal flight. The pilot reported that, just after takeoff, the engine started having problems and that the "motor was coming in and out." He attempted to return to the airport, but as he was turning the airplane, it departed controlled flight and subsequently impacted a field just west of the airport. An on-scene examination of the airplane revealed that it had impacted the ground in a nose-low attitude. The airplane's right wing and main landing gear were separated from the fuselage, and two blades of the three-bladed propeller were broken off at the hub. About 10 gallons of fuel was found in the two wing tanks, which held about 14 gallons. Due to a federal government shutdown at the time of the accident, the engine was not retained, and a follow-on examination of the engine was not conducted. It is likely that, during the turn back to the airport following the partial loss of engine power, the pilot failed to maintain adequate airspeed and exceeded the airplane's critical angle-of-attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
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 engine power (partial) during takeoff
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 06R Bellville TX at 6:45 pm
- Destination: 06R Bellville TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 6:35 pm from K11R, 10 miles away
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.