Evektor-Aerotechnik As SPORTSTAR SL accident near Montgomery, New York, July 5, 2015
On July 5, 2015 at about 5:00 pm local time, a 2008 Evektor-Aerotechnik As SPORTSTAR SL, registered N163PH, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Montgomery, New York (Orange County 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 improper pitch control which resulted in a hard landing. A factor contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 2015 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Montgomery, New York · Orange County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Evektor-Aerotechnik As SPORTSTAR SL, built 2008
- Registration
- N163PH · no longer on the register · serial 20081106
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during touchdown the airplane landed hard and bounced. The third time the airplane made contact with the runway it was in a nose down attitude. The nose landing gear and propeller made contact with runway and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 177 hours in all; 175 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 71 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 22, 2014
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 318 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 30, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 1,268 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 243 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4B0 South Bethlehem NY at 4:00 pm
- Destination: MGJ Montgomery NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 5,006 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from KMGJ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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.