Amateur-built Challenger II accident near Minneola, Florida, January 21, 2021
On January 21, 2021 at about 2:45 pm local time, a 2008 amateur-built Challenger II, registered N4469Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Minneola, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the engine/propeller drive belt.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 21, 2021 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Minneola, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Challenger II NO SERIES, built 2008
- Registration
- N4469Z · registry record · serial CH2-1007-2821
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane stated that he was on final approach when the airplane “abruptly” turned right 45°, and the flight controls no longer felt normal. The pilot said it was a challenge to maneuver the airplane and, as he attempted to avoid trees, the airplane stalled and impacted the ground. A postaccident examination of the airplane and its two-stroke engine revealed that the belt that connected the engine output sprocket to the propeller drive sprocket had broken. The belt had not been manufactured for use in aircraft. Examination of the edges of the belt revealed that it appeared rubbed with exposed core strands in several areas consistent with lateral travel or tracking and that the belt ultimately broke due to tensile overload failure.
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
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 39.4 hours in all; 12.4 in this make and model; 13 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 435 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 21, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 960 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 DCD1 (piston); 444 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 06FD Mascotte FL at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from ORL, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on October 12, 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Engine Logbook | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report 21-052 | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | FAA Bulletin | PDF, 2 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.