Let Np Kinovice Z37A accident near Oak Hill, Florida, October 24, 2003
On October 24, 2003 at about 10:24 pm local time, a Let Np Kinovice Z37A, registered N137MS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oak Hill, Florida (Blue Ridge Airpark Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering to re-enter the pattern resulting in an inadvertent stall and impact with trees and the ground during the subsequent uncontrolled descent.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 24, 2003 · about 10:24 pm local time
- Place
- Oak Hill, Florida · Blue Ridge Airpark Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Let Np Kinovice Z37A
- Registration
- N137MS · registry record · serial 14-05
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he was in slow flight at 250 feet above ground level in the traffic pattern on a heading of northwest flying away from the runway when the right wing abruptly dropped. He first pushed the nose of the airplane forward, added power and opposite aileron, and then he applied rudder. He did not recover due to the low altitude. The FAA inspector who responded to the accident stated the pilot turned left base, for runway 18 when he noticed he was too close to the approach end of the runway. He elected to make a right turn to re-enter the traffic pattern. The airplane was on a heading of approximately 330-degrees when it stalled and spun to the right. During the uncontrolled descent the airplane rotated approximately 240 degrees before striking branches of a tree and then impacted the ground nose first.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 20 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 5,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 31, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
Crew member
No details recorded.
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Avia M462RF (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2FD6 Oak Hill FL
- Destination: Oak Hill FL
- Runway 170, 3,335 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KDAB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.