Amateur-built PULSAR XP accident near Inverness, Florida, October 7, 1995
On October 7, 1995 at about 5:52 pm local time, a amateur-built PULSAR XP, registered N912XL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Inverness, Florida (Inverness airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Premature rotation by the pilot during takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush, while attempting to accelerate in ground effect after lift-off.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 7, 1995 · about 5:52 pm local time
- Place
- Inverness, Florida · Inverness · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PULSAR XP
- Registration
- N912XL · no longer on the register · serial 251
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he performed an engine run-up before departure with no discrepancies noted. He initiated a takeoff in a no-wind condition with the flaps retracted. The pilot stated that after lift-off, he leveled off about 4 to 5 feet above the runway to build airspeed. He stated that the 'plane dropped, left wing more that right, aircraft skidded off runway, and hit runway marker along edge of runway at approximately 10 mph.' A postcrash fire erupted in the right wing area after the airplane came to rest. Both occupants were seriously burned. The passenger died later due to burns. The pilot stated that there was no preimpact failure or malfunction of the engine or flight control.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 900 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 725 as pilot in command; 62 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 93 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 7, 1995; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,060 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: X40 at 5:52 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,792 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:15 pm from OCF, 23 miles away
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.