Amateur-built FIRESTAR accident near Wetumpka, Alabama, March 6, 2010
On March 6, 2010 at about 10:45 pm local time, a amateur-built FIRESTAR, registered N43341, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Wetumpka, Alabama (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s in-flight loss of control as a result of previous damage to the airplane from an undetermined event.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 6, 2010 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Wetumpka, Alabama · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built FIRESTAR
- Registration
- N43341 · no longer on the register · serial FS 692
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot stated that he was performing a series of local flights in an experimental amateur-built airplane. During his second takeoff and climb, he attempted to maneuver the airplane in a level attitude. The airplane pitched downward further than expected and he was able to maintain a shallow descent by commanding full up elevator. The student pilot applied power and the airplane rolled 90 degrees left while diving straight down. The airplane leveled out just prior to the wings impacting trees. After exiting the airplane, the student pilot observed that the left horizontal stabilizer was loose and the tail stinger tube was broken. He had performed a preflight inspection and did not notice anything abnormal prior to the flight. On-scene examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the tailwheel stinger tube and lower rudder hinge were fractured and that the damage was consistent with damage caused prior to the flight.
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 initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Empennage structure › Rudder/tab attach fitting › Damaged/degraded
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 130 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 110 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 760 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503DCDI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Wetumpka AL at 10:45 pm
- Destination: NONE Wetumpka AL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 500 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from MGM, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N43341 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.