Smith HORNET accident near St. George, Utah, August 11, 2018
On August 11, 2018 at about 2:55 pm local time, a Smith HORNET, registered N218B, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near St. George, Utah (St. George Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of airplane control during takeoff due to an unexpected gust of wind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 2018 · about 2:55 pm local time
- Place
- St. George, Utah · St. George Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Smith HORNET
- Registration
- N218B · no longer on the register · serial 0018
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Video from a security camera at the airport showed the airplane taxiing toward the end of the runway, and then the airplane was no longer in the camera's view. Shortly thereafter, the airplane came back into the camera's view and was seen just above the runway surface in a nearly wings vertical, nose low attitude just before impact with the ground. The owner of the airplane reported that the pilot had accumulated thousands of flight hours and estimated that he had a total of 5 flight hours in the accident airplane. The owner also stated that the pilot had flown the airplane only when the wind was calm to ensure that he could understand the airplane and its handling characteristics. Postaccident examination of the airframe revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot's toxicology results indicated that he had taken a medically disqualifying medication. However, no evidence indicated that the use of the medication was a factor in the accident. The airplane owner stated that a strong gust of wind, at a velocity that was strong enough to shake the building he was in, occurred just before the accident. About the time of the accident, the wind direction was reported as perpendicular to the runway surface, with a wind speed of 8 knots. No gusts were reported. The owner of the airplane also stated that random gusts of wind were relatively common at the airport due to the surrounding desert terrain. Thus, it is likely that the pilot experienced an unexpected strong gusting crosswind and lost control of the airplane during the takeoff sequence.
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 in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience w/ equipment › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,800 hours in all; 5 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 26, 2018; 4 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Hirth 2706 (piston); 17 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SGU St. George UT at 2:55 pm
- Destination: SGU St. George UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 9,300 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from SGU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on April 22, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meteorology | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation Regarding on Scene - FAA Inspector | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation - Owner of Airplane | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Security Video of Accident | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N218B 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.