Aero At Sp Zoo AT-4 LSA accident near Concord, New Hampshire, May 31, 2011
On May 31, 2011 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Aero At Sp Zoo AT-4 LSA, registered N709PR, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Concord, New Hampshire (Concord Municipal Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's loss of aircraft control during a go-around maneuver following a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 2011 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Concord, New Hampshire · Concord Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero At Sp Zoo AT-4 LSA · all AT-4 LSAs on the register
- Registration
- N709PR · no longer on the register · serial AT4-022
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During landing of the student pilot's first solo cross country flight, the airplane bounced and began to drift to the left of the runway centerline. The student attempted unsuccessfully to correct the drift, and consequently performed a go-around. Images of the student pilot's go-around were captured by a security camera on the airport. Review of the captured images revealed that during the go-around, the airplane rolled and turned to the left, while simultaneously pitching up into a nose-high attitude. The airplane then pitched nose down while continuing to roll and turn left, before moving out of view of the security camera. A postaccident examination of the accident site revealed, that after moving out of view of the security camera, the airplane impacted the ground, 180 degrees off the runway heading, and nosed over. Examination of the airplane revealed that it had incurred substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and engine firewall. No preimpact malfunctions of the airplane or engine were discovered.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 100 hours in all; 97 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 793 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 24, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Southern Maine Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: EEN Keene NH
- Destination: CON Concord NH
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 17, 6,005 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from CON
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA11CA319.