Amateur-built Bearhawk LSA accident near Holly Springs, North Carolina, April 22, 2019
On April 22, 2019 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 2012 amateur-built Bearhawk LSA, registered N289EH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Holly Springs, North Carolina (Holly Ridge/Topsail Island airport). It was a personal 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 failure to maintain clearance from powerlines during the visual approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 22, 2019 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Holly Springs, North Carolina · Holly Ridge/Topsail Island · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Bearhawk LSA, built 2012
- Registration
- N289EH · registry record · serial 195611
- 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, while on final approach for landing, the airplane impacted powerlines and collided with the ground, resulting in substantial damage. He stated that he knew of the powerlines, but stated that he had not checked the airport/facility directory, which noted the placement and height of the powerlines. Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of airport information revealed that the powerlines were located 50 ft from the runway threshold and were 60 ft tall. The accident is consistent with the pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a known obstacle during the landing approach.
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
- 650470 during 650
- 508490 during 508
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Flight planning/navigation › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land, none, none, none
- Flight time: 5,500 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 5,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 19, 2018
- Medical certificate: class 3
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 series (piston); 0 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: VA04 Fincastle VA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: N21 Holly Ridge NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 3,600 ft by 88 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°C, dew point 0°C
- Observation at 7:00 pm from KNCA
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 ERA19LA157.