Amateur-built SF-24A Motorspatz accident near Wichita, Kansas, August 25, 2006
On August 25, 2006 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built SF-24A Motorspatz (glider), registered N41FA, was destroyed in an accident near Wichita, Kansas (Colonel James Jabara airport). 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 failure to maintain aircraft control. Factors were the low airspeed and the inadvertent stall and spin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 2006 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wichita, Kansas · Colonel James Jabara · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SF-24A Motorspatz
- Registration
- N41FA · registry record · serial 4027
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The witnesses reported that the motor glider obtained an altitude between 40 and 60 feet above the ground when it initiated a slight left turn. Several witnesses stated that it appeared as if the glider was having difficulty climbing. The motor glider then "spiraled" or "spun" down to the ground, impacting in a near vertical attitude, destroying the motor glider. An examination revealed no anomalies with the airframe, systems, or powerplant.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,400 hours in all; 28 as pilot in command; 18 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 298 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 1, 2006
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Evinrude OMC-2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AAO Wichita KS at 9:00 pm
- Destination: AAO Wichita KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 6,101 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from ICT, 11 miles away
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.