Amateur-built Air-Bike accident near Warrensburg, Missouri, October 3, 2021
On October 3, 2021 at about 3:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Air-Bike, registered UNREG, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering near Warrensburg, Missouri (Skyhaven Airport). It was an instructional 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 improper judgment of both pilots to attempt a flight while impaired by drugs/medications and their failure to maintain control of the aircraft, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 3, 2021 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Warrensburg, Missouri · Skyhaven Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Air-Bike NO SERIES
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial Unknown
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The uncertificated pilot, who recently purchased the aircraft, and a pilot who did not hold a flight instructor certificate, as required, departed on the accident flight so that the uncertificated pilot could learn to fly the aircraft. The aircraft did not have a required registration and airworthiness certificate. A witness stated the aircraft wing dropped while turning. It then entered a descent and impacted the ground. The engine continued to operate during the flight. The left-wing drop followed by a descent was consistent with an aerodynamic stall. Postaccident examination of the flight controls confirmed flight control continuity. Toxicology tests revealed the front seat uncertificated pilot had high levels of methamphetamine in cavity blood and liver, most likely consistent with recent use, which likely resulted in some impairment. The rear seat pilot had a therapeutic level of oxycodone in his subclavian blood as well as a high level in his gastric fluid with only metabolite in gastric fluid, suggesting recent ingestion of the drug. He too, was likely impaired to some extent from his use of this drug. Although both pilots were likely impaired by their use of substances, whether that impairment directly contributed to the circumstances of this accident could not be determined. The root issue in this case was the decision by each occupant to get in the aircraft and attempt to fly it when they lacked the skills and qualifications to safely do so.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during maneuvering
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Flight crew
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Flight crew
Pilot
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 150 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,300 ft; clear at 1,300 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 am from RCM, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on March 22, 2023. 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 | Record of Correspondence - FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Photo Log | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Toxicology - Front Seat Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Toxicology - Rear Seat Pilot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Medical Factual Report | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under UNREG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.