Amateur-built XLS accident near Firth, Idaho, October 4, 2020
On October 4, 2020 at about 1:13 am local time, a 2015 amateur-built XLS, registered N7143A, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Firth, Idaho (Pvt airport). It was a personal 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
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the landing flare which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and collision with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 2020 · about 1:13 am local time
- Place
- Firth, Idaho · Pvt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built XLS, built 2015
- Registration
- N7143A · registry record · serial 027
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that about 15 ft above the ground, during the landing flare, the airspeed decreased, and the left wing dropped. The pilot applied full throttle control to recover from the stall, however the airplane continued to descend and touched down on the left land gear which collapsed. The airplane spun around substantially damaging the left aileron and lower rudder. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident 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
- Loss of control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 681 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 665 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 16, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 450 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 20, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 (piston); 450 hours total
The flight
- Runway Gras
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 230° at 28 knots, gusting 39
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 7:00 pm from KIDA, 16 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KIDA 211953Z 23028G39KT 10SM OVC049 13/01 A2986 RMK AO2 PK WND 22039/1911 SLP096 T01280006
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on June 25, 2021. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.