Evektor-Aerotechnik SportStar accident near Arlington, Washington, July 8, 2008
On July 8, 2008 at about 1:30 am local time, a Evektor-Aerotechnik SportStar, registered N918LA, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Arlington, Washington (Arlington airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll in gusty conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 2008 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Arlington, Washington · Arlington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Evektor-Aerotechnik SportStar
- Registration
- N918LA · no longer on the register · serial 918
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that during the takeoff roll on runway 34, the airplane was buffeted by a gust of wind and it yawed to the left. He applied full opposite rudder control; however, the airplane veered off the runway. After the airplane exited the runway, the right main landing gear leg collapsed and the airplane came to rest adjacent to the runway. The student pilot stated that the winds at the time of the accident were from 280 degrees at 11 knots. No mechanical failures or malfunctions were reported.
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
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff
- Runway excursion during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 50 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 195 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 15, 2008; 95 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,268 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Northwest Aviation Center
The flight
- Departed from: KAWO Arlington WA at 1:30 am
- Destination: KAWO Arlington WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 5,332 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 1:30 am from KAWO, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.