Evektor-Aerotechnik As SPORTSTAR accident near Snohomish, Washington, July 15, 2009
On July 15, 2009 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Evektor-Aerotechnik As SPORTSTAR, registered N827EV, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Snohomish, Washington (Harvey Field). It was an instructional 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
A complete loss of engine power due to the failure of the airplane's engine-driven fuel pump.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 2009 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Snohomish, Washington · Harvey Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Evektor-Aerotechnik As SPORTSTAR · all SPORTSTARs on the register
- Registration
- N827EV · registry record · serial 2007 0827
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot had just taken off for a flight that was to remain in the traffic pattern when the airplane's engine began to lose power about 150 to 200 feet above ground level (AGL). Soon thereafter the engine lost all power, and the flight instructor took control of the airplane. Because there were trees and power lines in his flight path, the instructor found it necessary to make a descending turn of about 150 degrees in order to attempt a forced landing. Just as he was rolling out of the turn the airplane impacted the terrain with sufficient force to result in substantial damage to the fuselage and one wing. A post-accident inspection overseen by a Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Inspector determined that the engine-driven fuel pump had failed. During the inspection process the engine was supplied with an alternate source of fuel, and it ran without interruption.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during initial climb
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel pump › Failure
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Contributed to outcome
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 619 hours in all; 19 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all; 4 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,213 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Snohomish Flying Service INC
The flight
- Departed from: S43 Snohomish WA at 11:30 pm
- Destination: S43 Snohomish WA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.