Amateur-built F1D accident near Reno, Nevada, November 2, 2007
On November 2, 2007 at about 10:00 pm local time, a amateur-built F1D, registered N42KK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Reno, Nevada (Reno/Stead Airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of airplane control while performing intentional approach to stall maneuvers. Contributing to the accident was the inadvertent entry of the airplane into a spin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 2, 2007 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Reno, Nevada · Reno/Stead Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built F1D
- Registration
- N42KK · registry record · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed on his first flight in the experimental amateur-built airplane. Before departure, the pilot asked a person, who also became an eyewitness to the accident, to monitor the radio and document information regarding the test flight transmitted by the pilot. During the preflight briefing, the pilot told the witness that part of the flight would include doing an "approach to stall." The pilot topped off the 5-gallon fuel tank and departed for an estimated 30-minute flight. The witness observed the airplane maneuvering near the airport, and the pilot made several transmissions to him. The witness said the airplane entered a high downwind (approximately 2,000-3,000 feet above the ground). He observed the airplane slow to a nose high attitude while maintaining altitude. Then, while maintaining the same pitch attitude, a constant loss of altitude occurred with the wings level for approximately 3 to 4 seconds. He heard no increase in engine power nor was the airplane's pitch angle reduced. There appeared to be an abrupt entry into a right spin, and 6 to 8 turns were observed with a nearly vertical impact with the ground. Post accident examination of the engine revealed no abnormalities that would have precluded normal operation. No logbooks documenting airplane maintenance were found, and no pilot flight logbooks were found.
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: 1,150 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 15, 1997
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4SD Reno NV at 8:40 pm
- Destination: 4SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08, 7,608 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from RNO, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA08LA017.