Amateur-built Hornet accident near Shelby, Ohio, June 12, 2005
On June 12, 2005 at about 11:50 pm local time, a amateur-built Hornet, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Shelby, Ohio (Shelby Community Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to obtain\maintain the proper climb airspeed during departure, which resulted in an inadvertent stall. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of flight experience in the accident airplane make and model.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 2005 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Shelby, Ohio · Shelby Community Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Hornet
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was departing on his second flight in the airplane, the first with a passenger on board. As the airplane climbed to about 100 feet, at an airspeed of approximately 50 knots, it banked to the right, and descended to the ground. Examination of the airplane after the accident did not reveal any abnormalities with the airframe or engine. The airplane was operated approximately 34 pounds over the maximum gross weight prescribed by the kit manufacturer.
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: 230 hours in all; 1 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Hirth 65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 12G Shelby OH at 11:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,174 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 7:52 pm from MFD
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.
Other NTSB records under UNREG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.