Aero Sp Z O O AT 4 LSA accident near Colorado Springs, Colorado, April 30, 2015
On April 30, 2015, a 2008 Aero Sp Z O O AT 4 LSA, registered N344UA, was substantially damaged in an accident during uncontrolled descent near Colorado Springs, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to perform aerobatic maneuvers in an airplane not certified for aerobatic flight, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 30, 2015
- Place
- Colorado Springs, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Sp Z O O AT 4 LSA NO SERIES, built 2008 · all AT 4 LSAs on the register
- Registration
- N344UA · no longer on the register · serial AT4-019
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Flight Instructor (CFI) piloting the airplane reported he was not performing aerobatic maneuvers; however, a review of the onboard airplane video by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Safety Inspector revealed that the pilot had been performing aerobatic maneuvers in an airplane not certified for aerobatic flight. During the flight, the airplane entered a spin, descended uncontrolled, and impacted a creek bank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine compartment, wings, fuselage, and tail section. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to flight, which would have prevented normal airplane operations. According to Aero Sp. Z.O.O AT-4 LSA Pilot Operating Handbook, aerobatics and intentional spins are prohibited.
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 in flight during maneuvering (aerobatics)
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during maneuvering
- Loss of engine power (total) during uncontrolled descent defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,100 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 4,800 as pilot in command; 4,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 7, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 945 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 27, 2015; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bombardier Rotax 912ULS (piston); 945 hours total
- Operator: Springs Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: KFLY Peyton CO at 11:10 pm
- Destination: KFLY Peyton CO
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 pm from KFLY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N344UA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.