Nord (Sncan) STAMPE SV4C accident near Ovilla, Texas, July 20, 1998
On July 20, 1998 at about 12:15 pm local time, a Nord (Sncan) STAMPE SV4C, registered N123SV, was destroyed in an accident near Ovilla, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft while performing aerobatic maneuvers.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 1998 · about 12:15 pm local time
- Place
- Ovilla, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Nord (Sncan) STAMPE SV4C STAMPE SV4
- Registration
- N123SV · registry record · serial 294
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was performing precision aerobatic maneuvers in preparation for an upcoming overseas competition. A witness stated that she observed the airplane in a near vertical dive. The witness reported hearing the sound of the engine "revving up" during the descent. Physical evidence and signatures at the accident site indicated that the airplane impacted the ground in a nearly vertical attitude in a slight right turn. The pilot's 5-point seat belt harness system was found unfastened, suggesting she was attempting to bail out. A review of the airframe and engine records did not reveal evidence of any anomalies or uncorrected maintenance defects. During examination of the wreckage, flight control continuity was confirmed, and no anomalies were noted that would have prevented normal aircraft flight.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,050 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,900 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 27, 1998; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,696 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Renault 4PO3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2TS6 Midlothian TX at 11:55 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 180°F (82°C), dew point 154°F (68°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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 FTW98FA316.