Airindus Thorpedo T211 accident near Stafford, Virginia, January 31, 2008
On January 31, 2008 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Airindus Thorpedo T211, registered N211US, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Stafford, Virginia (Stafford Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student's improper landing flare and the flight examiner's improper supervision of the student.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 31, 2008 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Stafford, Virginia · Stafford Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airindus Thorpedo T211
- Registration
- N211US · registry record · serial 007S
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight examiner stated that the accident occur while administering a sport pilot airplane check ride to the student pilot. During the preflight briefing he advised the student pilot that he, the student, would be the pilot in command under FAR 61.47(b) for the practical test. On the third landing, which was a simulated soft field landing, the student pilot flared too high. Shortly thereafter, the airplane collided with the ground, and veered off to the left of the runway. The student pilot did not report ay mechanical or flight control anomalies prior to the accident.
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 › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Designated examiner
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Designated examiner
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 63 hours in all; 63 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 5 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 410 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2007; 410 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,270 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jabiru 3300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RMN Stafford VA at 5:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.48 inHg
- Observation at 8:20 pm from KRMN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.