Evektor-Aerotechnik As SPORTSTAR accident near Delaware, Ohio, September 2, 2016
On September 2, 2016 at about 1:30 pm local time, a 2007 Evektor-Aerotechnik As SPORTSTAR, registered N904LA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Delaware, Ohio (Delaware Muni - Jim Moore Fiel airport). It was an instructional 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s inadequate compensation for the quartering tailwind on landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 2016 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Delaware, Ohio · Delaware Muni - Jim Moore Fiel · 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 NO SERIES, built 2007 · all SPORTSTARs on the register
- Registration
- N904LA · no longer on the register · serial 20070904
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that during his first supervised solo landing that was conducted in light and variable crosswind conditions, he initiated a go around because, the wind had pushed him off course, and he was no longer in a good position to land. He further reported that during his second approach "everything looked good", but that immediately after the wheels touched down, the airplane veered to the left. He tried to compensate but "very quickly lost control". Subsequently, the airplane exited the runway to the left, the nose gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground. A post-accident examination revealed substantial damage to the right wing rear spar. The student pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of local weather at the time of the accident showed the wind 070 degrees true at 6 nautical miles per hour, and not gusting. The student pilot landed on runway 28.
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 defining event
- Runway excursion during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Response/compensation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 28.7 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 18.6 in the last 90 days; 2.5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 30, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax ULS (piston); 1,467 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DLZ Delaware OH at 1:00 pm
- Destination: DLZ Delaware OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 1:36 pm from KDLZ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N904LA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 GAA16CA529.