Amateur-built N/A accident near Patillas, Puerto Rico, March 26, 2014
On March 26, 2014 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built N/A, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern base) near Patillas, Puerto Rico (Patillas Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during approach for landing, which resulted in a stall/spin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 26, 2014 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Patillas, Puerto Rico · Patillas Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built N/A
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial N/A
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident flight was reportedly the pilot's first flight in the unregistered airplane. There were no witnesses to the accident; the airplane was found about 750 ft from the runway threshold on an approximate 45-degree angle from the runway. Although there were no witnesses or other recorded data available documenting the moments leading up to the accident, the location of the wreckage in relation to the runway suggested that the airplane might have been turning from the base to the final leg of the airport traffic pattern when the accident occurred. The orientation of the wreckage was consistent with the airplane having been in an aerodynamic stall/spin at impact. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies. Paperwork recovered from the pilot's home indicated that the airplane was based on a commercially available set of plans for an ultralight aircraft and that the pilot used these plans when he constructed the airplane. However, he made modifications that could have resulted in unanticipated adverse handling characteristics. Federal Aviation Administration guidance on amateur-built aircraft recommends developing a flight test plan to detect any hazardous operating characteristics and to determine the airplane's performance and operating envelope; however, no documents were located indicating that the pilot had developed or intended to perform a flight test plan.
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 approach (VFR pattern base) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Fabrication › Owner/builder
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,800 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 296 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen unk (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X64 Patillas PR
- Destination: X64 Patillas PR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,700 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from JSJ, 27 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 UNREG 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.