Amateur-built F-1 accident near Suffolk, Virginia, December 24, 2019
On December 24, 2019 at about 7:15 pm local time, a 2009 amateur-built F-1, registered N230BW, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (aerobatics) near Suffolk, Virginia. It was a personal 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
A structural failure of the horizontal stabilizer during aerobatic maneuvers near the airplane’s never-exceed speed. Contributing to the failure was the construction of the horizontal stabilizer that did not meet the kit manufacturer’s specifications.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 24, 2019 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Suffolk, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built F-1, built 2009
- Registration
- N230BW · no longer on the register · serial 01
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were performing aerobatic maneuvers in the experimental amateur-built airplane. After the pilot had performed several aileron rolls, barrel rolls, and wing overs, the pilot-rated passenger in the aft seat attempted to conduct a barrel roll. Data from onboard avionics indicated that, during the descending portion of the roll, the airplane reached a 9,166 ft-per-minute rate of descent at an airspeed of 238 knots, 2 knots below the airplane’s never-exceed speed (Vne). The pilots then heard a loud noise and felt a buffet in the aft flight controls, and reported limited pitch control movement. The airplane subsequently experienced a negative G-load and an decrease in pitch attitude. The pilot attempted to recover from this rapid descent, during which the airplane reached an airspeed of 240.5 knots and a +3.68g-load. The pilot was able to recover at 455 ft mean sea level and return to the airport and land. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right horizontal stabilizer forward of the aft spar was missing and the elevator assembly remained attached. The left horizontal stabilizer and associated elevator assembly was bent downward but remained attached and operable. The upper and lower straps on the forward spar only had four rivets each including the one at the closeout rib, but, according to kit manufacturer’s specifications, there should have been five rivets each. This likely lowered the structural integrity of the stabilizer and contributed to the structural failure but was likely not the primary cause. Although flutter was reported by both pilots and could not be ruled out, the damage to the horizontal stabilizer was consistent with its failure due to aerodynamic overload during aerobatic maneuvers near the airplane’s Vne.
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
- Flight control sys malf/fail during maneuvering (aerobatics) defining event
- Part(s) separation from AC during maneuvering (aerobatics)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Empennage structure › Spars/ribs (horizontal stab) › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Empennage structure › Horizontal stabilizer › Damaged/degraded
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Empennage structure › Spars/ribs (horizontal stab) › Capability exceeded
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Owner/builder
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,738 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 2,322 as pilot in command; 393 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 30, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 45 hours in all; 1 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 407 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 2, 2019; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 407 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SFQ Suffolk VA at 6:45 pm
- Destination: PVG Norfolk VA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 pm from SFQ, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSFQ 241915Z AUTO 04009KT 10SM CLR 12/03 A3004 RMK AO2 T01220033=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on April 26, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation_faa | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation_pilot Owner | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Airspeed and Aerobatic Limitations_poh Excerpt | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Third Party Accident Report Excerpt | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Cockpit Display - Recorded Flight Data - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Attachment 1 to Cockpit Display - Recorded Flight Data - Specialist's Factual Report | data file | Download |
| 8 | Photo Array_airplane Damage | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Third Party Examination and Accident Report | PDF, 26 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.