Extra Flugzeugproduktions-Und EA 300/L accident near Aledo, Texas, December 17, 2020
On December 17, 2020 at about 10:29 pm local time, a 2007 Extra Flugzeugproduktions-Und EA 300/L, registered N102JK, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Aledo, Texas. 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 pilot’s loss of control during an intentional aerobatic maneuver, which resulted in an upright spin into terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 17, 2020 · about 10:29 pm local time · cases in 2020
- Place
- Aledo, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Extra Flugzeugproduktions-Und EA 300/L, built 2007 · all EA 300/Ls on the register
- Registration
- N102JK · registry record · serial 1250
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experienced aerobatic pilot completed a formation flight with another airplane and then climbed to about 4,200 ft above ground level (agl) to practice aerobatic maneuvers. Flight track data showed the airplane performing maneuvers for about 3 minutes and ended as the airplane descended through 3,200 ft agl. The airplane continued to descend and impacted flat terrain in a nose-down, upright attitude with minimal forward momentum. A postaccident examination revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Based on the circumstances, the airplane’s condition at impact, and the statements of airshow pilots familiar with the pilot’s flight training, he likely flew an aerobatic maneuver that transitioned to an upright spin that he was unable to recover from before ground impact.
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 maneuvering defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,500 hours in all; 170 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,216 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 25, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,094 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540-L1B5 (piston); 2,266 hours total
- Operator: Rockstar Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: 50F Cresson TX at 10:09 pm
- Destination: 50F Cresson TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from KGDJ, 14 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KGDJ 172235Z AUTO 12007KT 10SM CLR 17/M01 A3020 RMK AO2 T01651014
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 5 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Right Side View of Airplane at Accident Site
Photo 2 – Left Side View of Airplane at Accident Site
Photo 3 – Front View of Airplane at Accident Site
Photo 4 – Rear View of Airplane at Accident Site
Photo 5 – Rear Seat Flight Deck at Accident SiteThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
13 documents, released by the NTSB on July 27, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Interview with RV4 Pilot | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 2 | Interview with Airshow Pilots | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Photos at Accident Site | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Aircraft Examinations Summary | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 5 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | Autopsy Memorandum | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 7 | Garmin GPS - Factual Report | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 8 | Garmin GPS - Flight Track Information | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 9 | Garmin GPS - Tabular Data | data file · our copy | Download |
| 10 | Flightaware Information - Accident Flight | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 11 | Flightaware Information - Previous Flights | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 12 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 13 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N102JK on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Extra Flugzeugproduktions-Und EA 300 73 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Extra Flugzeugproduktions-Und 67 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540-L1B5 56 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Bourland Field · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,061 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,986 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN21LA091.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.