Tl Ultralight STINGSPORT accident near Burlington, Washington, August 24, 2013
On August 24, 2013 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 2007 Tl Ultralight STINGSPORT, registered N9494, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Burlington, Washington (Skagit Regional airport). It was a personal 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 improper flare and unsuccessful attempt to correct a bounced landing, which resulted in a nose gear collapse
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 2013 · about 9:30 pm local time · cases in 2013
- Place
- Burlington, Washington · Skagit Regional · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Tl Ultralight STINGSPORT, built 2007
- Registration
- N9494 · registry record · serial TLUSA155
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot rented the special light sport airplane from a fixed base operator for the purpose of conducting a personal flight to a non-towered airport, where he planned to practice landings and takeoffs. He entered a left traffic pattern for runway 11 at the destination airport, and conducted a normal touch-and-go landing and takeoff, with the intent of conducting at least one more touch-and-go on the same runway. He used the same flap and power settings for the second approach, but noted that the second approach was "slightly shallower than normal." After touchdown, the airplane bounced. The pilot maintained the pitch attitude, and the airplane touched down and bounced again. He then added power with the intent to abandon the landing, but the propeller struck the runway. The pilot reduced power and the airplane slid to a stop on the runway. The nose landing gear was collapsed aft, and penetrated the fuselage fuel tank, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 163 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 111 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 16, 2013
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 453 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 20, 2013; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 453 hours total
- Operator: Arlington Flight Services
The flight
- Departed from: BVS Burlington WA
- Destination: BVS Burlington WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 5,478 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,900 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from BVS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N9494 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS 62 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Skagit Regional · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Washington 2,713 since 1982 · 362 in the last ten years
- Washington 10,633 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR13CA387.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.