Airborne (Australia) EDGE EXECUTIVE accident near Eustis, Florida, October 3, 2013
On October 3, 2013 at about 12:33 pm local time, a 1996 Airborne (Australia) EDGE EXECUTIVE (weight-shift aircraft), registered N927H, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Eustis, Florida (Mid Florida Air Service airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadvertent stalling of the wing following a total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examinations, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 3, 2013 · about 12:33 pm local time
- Place
- Eustis, Florida · Mid Florida Air Service · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airborne (Australia) EDGE EXECUTIVE NO SERIES, built 1996
- Registration
- N927H · registry record · serial 582-179
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had successfully performed three takeoffs and landings with his instructor earlier that day; no discrepancies were reported with the engine during the 30-minute flight. The pilot was signed off for his solo flight, and he began the flight with 6 gallons of fuel. The engine quit at the departure end of the runway when the airplane was about 400 feet above ground level. Witnesses, including the pilot's flight instructor, reported observing the airplane pitch down consistent with the wing stalling. The airplane impacted the ground hard, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane and serious injury to the pilot. The examination of the airframe revealed no discrepancies with the flight controls. The examination of the engine revealed no evidence of piston scoring, which would occur if the engine had seized. Further, no issues with the air induction system were found; the carburetors were not inspected. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
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 (total) during initial climb defining event
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb
- 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 › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X55 Eustis FL at 12:32 pm
- Destination: X55 Eustis FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,200 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from LEE, 10 miles away
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 ERA14LA035.