Stys T-Bird Sport accident near West Bend, Wisconsin, May 30, 2006
On May 30, 2006 at about 1:15 am local time, a Stys T-Bird Sport, registered N391T, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Bend, Wisconsin (West Bend Municipal 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in a stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 2006 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- West Bend, Wisconsin · West Bend Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stys T-Bird Sport
- Registration
- N391T · no longer on the register · serial 0001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The amateur-built light sport aircraft sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a baseball field after a complete loss of engine power while turning from base leg to the final approach for landing. The pilot reported that the two-cycle engine rpm slowed to 3,500 rpm for a few seconds and then stopped. The altitude was about 300 - 400 feet above ground level (agl), and he was unable to make it to the runway. The pilot reported that there was 1/4 tank of fuel in the right tank and less fuel in the left tank. He attempted to land in a baseball field, but was "unable to retain directional control" as the airplane cleared the obstructions to the field. The pilot reported that the left wing "dipped" and the airplane impacted bushes and trees. The inspection of the engine revealed that it did not seize. No deficiencies were found that would have precluded normal engine operation.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 379 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 287 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ETB West Bend WI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.