Aero Sp Z O O (Gobosh) AT-4 LSA accident near Hemet, California, July 20, 2008
On July 20, 2008 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Aero Sp Z O O (Gobosh) AT-4 LSA, registered N706GB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Hemet, California (Hemet-Ryan 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's improper landing flare and inadequate 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 20, 2008 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Hemet, California · Hemet-Ryan Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Sp Z O O (Gobosh) AT-4 LSA
- Registration
- N706GB · no longer on the register · serial AT4-006
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot had performed two landings prior to the accident without incident. The pilot noted that while on final approach for the accident landing there was a stronger than expected headwind and he had to add power to compensate. He then reduced the power to idle in preparation for landing. He leveled the airplane and applied back-pressure on the control stick and waited for the airplane to stall prior to touchdown. He said that at that point, the airplane seemed to "run out of air and dropped," landing hard on the runway. The airplane bounced, and began to porpoise down the runway. On the second bounce, the airplane yawed to the left and, as it impacted the runway again, the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane skidded to the left of the runway before coming to a stop upright on the side of the runway. The pilot reported that there were no preexisting mechanical problems with the airplane.
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
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 39 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 124 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 18, 2008; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS2 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hemet Flight Center, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: HMT Hemet CA
- Destination: HMT Hemet CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 4,314 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,200 ft; clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 2:42 pm from RIV, 15 miles away
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.