Evolution Aircraft INC REVO accident near Zephyrhills, Florida, September 25, 2024
On September 25, 2024 at about 11:10 am local time, a 2015 Evolution Aircraft INC REVO (weight-shift aircraft), an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N889HT, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Zephyrhills, Florida (Zephyrhills Municipal Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor’s failure to ensure the haul back cable was securely connected to the “J” hook prior to departing on the accident flight, which resulted in the cable becoming disconnected and the wings folding up during flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 25, 2024 · about 11:10 am local time
- Place
- Zephyrhills, Florida · Zephyrhills Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Evolution Aircraft INC REVO, built 2015, amateur-built · all REVOs on the register
- Registration
- N889HT · registry record · serial 000612
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident occurred during an instructional flight in a weight-shift-control aircraft. A witness reported hearing a popping sound and then saw the aircraft descending in a nose-down attitude with what he thought were flames coming from the aircraft. The aircraft continued to descend and impacted on the terrain. An airport security video captured the aircraft in a nose-down attitude with the wings folded back as it descended. The video showed that in the early morning, low light conditions, the aircraft’s position lights were on. This was likely what the witness thought was flames coming from the aircraft. Postaccident examination of the wreckage confirmed that there was no evidence of an inflight fire; however, a postimpact fire consumed most of the wreckage. The examination also found that the flight control cables were all connected to their respective connections. The haul back cable was found disconnected at the “J” hook, and the “J” hook was otherwise intact. The haul back cable allowed the wings to be folded for transport and storage of the aircraft. An inflight disconnection would have allowed the wings to fold back during flight. Based on this information, it is likely that the flight instructor did not secure the end of the haul back cable into the “J” hook prior to departing and the haul back cable detached during flight, which allowed the wings to fold up.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Loss of control in flight during enroute (cruise)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Instructor/check pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Wing structure › Attach fittings (on wing) › Inadequate inspection
Flight instructor
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: powered-lift; instructor: sport pilot
- Last flight review: April 4, 2024
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
Dual student
- Flight time: 0 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ZPH Zephyrhills FL at 11:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 am from ZPH
Weather report (METAR): KZPH 251115Z AUTO 08004KT 10SM CLR 24/24 A2990 RMK A02 T02400240
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on June 12, 2025. 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 | Witness Statement | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 2 | Video File | MOV file · our copy | Download |
| 3 | Wreckage Examination Summary | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Investigative Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 5 | Toxicological Report - Flight Instructor | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | Toxicological Report - Student Pilot | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 7 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 ERA24FA395.