Amateur-built MXL II Sport accident near Arroyo, Puerto Rico, July 14, 2001
On July 14, 2001 at about 10:40 pm local time, a amateur-built MXL II Sport, registered N4305C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arroyo, Puerto Rico (Patillas airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilots failure to maintain directional control during climb, which resulted in the airplane drifting off course and impacting with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 2001 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- Arroyo, Puerto Rico · Patillas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MXL II Sport
- Registration
- N4305C · registry record · serial 208
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness observed the airplane takeoff from a strip of sandy beach in an easterly direction en route to a nearby airport. The witnesses stated that the pilot applied "full throttle," the airplane rolled for a short distances, lifted off "normally...climbed normally," and continued to gain altitude in a straight line when it "unexpectedly" started turning left toward the line of palm trees. The airplane disappeared from his view, he then heard the noise of the propeller "thrashing" against the palm leaves, the engine stopped, he saw the aircraft "plummet" straight down from the tree top, and all the time to the moment of impact, "the engine sounded as if it was delivering full power."
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
Pilot
- Certificate: recreational
- Flight time: 200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 208 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, January 6, 2001
- Maximum gross weight: 720 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 52 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Arroyo PR at 10:40 pm
- Destination: Arroyo PR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 070, 2,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 pm from SJU, 60 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N4305C 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.