Amateur-built 4 Place accident near Sanford, North Carolina, June 25, 2023
On June 25, 2023 at about 4:15 pm local time, a 2019 amateur-built 4 Place, registered N108YZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Sanford, North Carolina (Raleigh Executive Jetport airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in a crosswind, which resulted in a nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 2023 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Sanford, North Carolina · Raleigh Executive Jetport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 4 Place, built 2019
- Registration
- N108YZ · registry record · serial 986
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot/builder of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he had flown a few times around the airport traffic pattern and was preparing for a full stop landing. After touchdown, the airplane began to veer to the left. He applied right rudder; however, he ran out of rudder authority due to the crosswind conditions that prevailed. He applied right brake to prevent a runway excursion; however, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The airplane’s fuselage, right wing, and vertical stabilizer were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and that the accident would have been prevented if he had more crosswind handling training.
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 on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 281 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 49 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 47 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 15, 2023; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Eggenfellner EG 200 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Eggenfellner E200 (piston); 97 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 6,501 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; scat at 4,400 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 12:05 pm from KTTA
Weather report (METAR): KTTA 251605Z AUTO 29004KT 10SM SCT044 BKN050 28/17 A2993 RMK AO2 T02840174
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
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.