Amateur-built Velocity SR6E accident near Valkaria, Florida, October 5, 2002
On October 5, 2002 at about 5:47 pm local time, a amateur-built Velocity SR6E, registered N954PB, was destroyed in an accident near Valkaria, Florida (Valkaria airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the pilot to maintain airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin, and subsequent impact with the terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 5, 2002 · about 5:47 pm local time
- Place
- Valkaria, Florida · Valkaria · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Velocity SR6E
- Registration
- N954PB · registry record · serial DMO325
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After departure the flight turned left departing the traffic pattern. As the airplane was flying westbound away from the airport, witnesses saw it lose altitude. The airplane turned to an easterly heading back towards the airport, the witnesses said the airplane was very slow and wallowing, it appeared to be in an unusual attitude, with the nose at a high angle of attack, it stalled, became unstable, and disappeared behind trees. The airplane crashed about 1/2 mile southwest of the airport, was found nose low and upside down. An examination of the engine and airframe did not reveal any discrepancies.
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: private
- Ratings: instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,139 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 984 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 3, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 24 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 3, 2002; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X59 Valkaria FL at 5:40 pm
- Destination: W03 Wilson NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KMLB, 11 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.
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.