Amateur-built Pixie accident near Sterling, Colorado, October 11, 2022
On October 11, 2022 at about 5:00 pm local time, a 2019 amateur-built Pixie, registered N872UE, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Sterling, Colorado (Sterling 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 pilot’s failure to maintain control during the takeoff with strong gusty surface wind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 11, 2022 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sterling, Colorado · Sterling Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Pixie, built 2019
- Registration
- N872UE · no longer on the register · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he had just purchased the airplane. During the second takeoff the airplane encountered a “violent variable wind gust”; the left wing rose unexpectedly, and the airplane stalled. The pilot reported that there was not enough altitude to recover and the airplane impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of takeoff, wind was reported as 250° at 23 knots, gusting to 30 knots.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb
- Other weather encounter during initial climb
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Ability to respond/compensate
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,400 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,348 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 13, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 9, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 947 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen Pober Pixie 1 (piston); 5 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 5KS8 Mc Donald KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33/1, 5,201 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 23 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 am from KSTK
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSTK 111655Z AUTO 25023G30KT 10SM CLR 25/M02 A2981
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on January 12, 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.