Aerostar, S.A Yak-52TW accident near Daytona Beach, Florida, April 9, 2005
On April 9, 2005 at about 2:40 pm local time, a Aerostar, S.A Yak-52TW, registered N610RG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Daytona Beach, Florida (Spruce Creek airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Pilot's failure to maintain directional control in a variable wind condition during landing resulting in the airplane departing the runway subsequent landing gear separation and impact with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 9, 2005 · about 2:40 pm local time
- Place
- Daytona Beach, Florida · Spruce Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar, S.A Yak-52TW
- Registration
- N610RG · registry record · serial 0312505
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated, during approach he encountered rough air. He noted the windsock was swinging from side to side. He decided to make a three-point landing, in order to have more control of the airplane on the runway. During the flare the tail wheel touched first, and the airplane ballooned slightly. A wind gust hit the right wing, which veered the plane to the left. He saw a number of people standing in the Windsock Park next to runway. His concern was to avoid the group of observers. He added some power to gain rudder control and corrected to the right. The right wing tip touched the runway, which jammed the controls. At that point, control of the airplane was lost. The airplane skidded off the left side of the runway, shearing both main landing gears and impacting trees before coming to a stop.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,899 hours in all; 488 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2
The aircraft
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Aeromotor M14PFX-DK (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KTIX Titusville FL
- Destination: 7FL6 Daytona Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 am from EVB
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.