Evolution Aircraft INC REVO accident near Carson City, Nevada, October 20, 2016
On October 20, 2016 at about 3:15 pm local time, a 2015 Evolution Aircraft INC REVO (weight-shift aircraft), registered N31PH, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) start-up) near Carson City, Nevada (Carson airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot receiving instruction's inadvertent application of throttle during the engine start, which led to an inadvertent acceleration and a roll-over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 20, 2016 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Carson City, Nevada · Carson · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Evolution Aircraft INC REVO, built 2015 · all REVOs on the register
- Registration
- N31PH · registry record · serial 000611
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor in the weight shift aircraft, which was equipped with a floor mounted, foot operated throttle, reported that upon startup, the pilot receiving instruction inadvertently applied full throttle while putting his right foot on the pedal power control unit. Subsequently, the weight shift aircraft started to move towards a parked jet, so the flight instructor turned the aircraft sharply and the aircraft tipped onto its side. The weight shift aircraft sustained substantial damage to both wings. The flight instructor reported that there were no pre impact 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
- Loss of control on ground during standing (engine(s) start-up) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during standing (engine(s) start-up)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › (general) › (general) › Unintentional use/operation
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, private, sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 4,960 hours in all; 470 in this make and model; 160 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 4,900 as pilot in command; 4,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 5, 2015
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 175 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 150 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 29, 2014
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 72 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 20, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 1,160 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912iS (piston); 72 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CXP Carson City NV at 3:15 pm
- Destination: CXP Carson City NV
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observation at 3:15 pm from KCXP, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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 N31PH 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.