Amateur-built FIRESTAR II accident near Numidia, Pennsylvania, August 16, 2013
On August 16, 2013 at about 10:15 pm local time, a 1997 amateur-built FIRESTAR II, registered N598LF, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Numidia, Pennsylvania (Numidia 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
A fatigue failure of the right main landing gear wheel axle attachment bracket, which resulted in a nose-over during a precautionary landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 2013 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Numidia, Pennsylvania · Numidia Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built FIRESTAR II, built 1997
- Registration
- N598LF · no longer on the register · serial 598
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, just after takeoff in his experimental light-sport airplane, the engine began to "surge," so he chose to return to the airport to perform a precautionary landing. On final approach to the turf runway, the pilot reduced the engine power to idle, and the engine subsequently experienced a total loss of power. Upon touchdown, the right main landing gear (MLG) wheel separated from the gear leg, the gear leg dug into the turf, and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe and left wing. Examination of the right MLG and wheel axle revealed that the wheel had separated from the gear leg due to the fatigue failure of the axle attachment bracket.
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 engine power (partial) during initial climb
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear attach sec › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear attach sec › Failure
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Soft › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 238 hours in all; 72 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days; 238 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 8, 2012
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 72 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 3, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 732 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 DIDC (piston); 72 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8PA0 Numidia PA at 8:15 pm
- Destination: 8PA0 Numidia PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08L, 2,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from SEG, 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.
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.