Aeropro Cz EUROFOX LSA accident near Winter Haven, Florida, February 7, 2012
On February 7, 2012 at about 6:27 pm local time, a Aeropro Cz EUROFOX LSA, registered N701CF, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (to runway) near Winter Haven, Florida (Gilbert Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor’s delayed remedial action to prevent the airplane from hitting the hangar door. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's misuse of the airplane's throttle, and his incorrect use of the wheel brakes.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 7, 2012 · about 6:27 pm local time
- Place
- Winter Haven, Florida · Gilbert Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeropro Cz EUROFOX LSA · all EUROFOX LSAs on the register
- Registration
- N701CF · registry record · serial 237 07
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that, while taxiing to the runway and adjusting the throttle, the engine spooled up and the taxi speed increased. He retarded the throttle and attempted to apply toe brakes, but the airplane was equipped with a hand brake instead of toe brakes. The flight instructor reported that the airplane moved toward a hangar at a "rapid speed" as he tried to slow the airplane. The airplane collided with a hangar door, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. The instructor stated that the time from loss of control to the collision with the hangar was about 2 to 3 seconds. The instructor had 1.9 hours of experience in the accident airplane. The pilots reported that there were no anomalies or malfunctions with the airplane during the accident sequence.
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 on ground during taxi (to runway) defining event
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Instructor/check pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine controls › Power lever › Incorrect use/operation
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Incorrect use/operation
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Student pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,076 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,017 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 12, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 1 hours in all; 1 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 791 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 9, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GIF Winter Haven FL
- Destination: GIF Winter Haven FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05, 5,005 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from GIF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.