Czech Sport Aircraft SportCruiser accident near Van Nuys, California, August 2, 2023
On August 2, 2023 at about 5:36 pm local time, a 2015 Czech Sport Aircraft SportCruiser, registered N384SC, was destroyed in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Van Nuys, California (Van Nuys airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The misalignment of the carburetor piston slides, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power, and the flight instructor’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during an emergency landing, leading to an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 2023 · about 5:36 pm local time
- Place
- Van Nuys, California · Van Nuys · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Czech Sport Aircraft SportCruiser, built 2015
- Registration
- N384SC · registry record · serial C0522
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the instructional flight, the student pilot and flight instructor were practicing touch-and-go landings. On the third takeoff, the airplane climbed to about 430 ft above ground level (agl) and, after turning onto the downwind leg, made a 360° turn. During that time, the flight instructor reported to an air traffic controller that they were experiencing some loss of engine power. The airplane continued on the downwind leg and the controller cleared it to land on any runway. The instructor further stated that they were having exhaust gas temperature (EGT) issues. The airplane continued to descend until abeam the runway threshold and then entered a steep left bank at an altitude of about 195 ft agl. The investigation was unable to determine if the pilots banked the airplane to land on a taxilane that was perpendicular to the runway, or if they were turning an early base leg to land on a runway. The bank steepened and the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall, impacting an asphalt ramp in a near-vertical attitude. The airplane was equipped with an engine monitoring system that would display a flashing warning and sound an audible "EXHAUST GAS TEMPERATURE" alert if the EGT exceeded the maximum EGT for the engine. The engine was equipped with two carburetors, each containing a piston that controlled fuel delivery. Postaccident examination revealed that both carburetor piston slides were misaligned and the index tabs were not engaged, likely from improper maintenance of the assembly. This misalignment can result in engine vibrations and would likely affect the overall performance of the engine, including EGT fluctuations. The investigation was unable to determine when the carburetors were last disassembled.
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 engine power (partial) during approach (VFR pattern downwind) defining event
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR pattern downwind)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Unknown/Not determined
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: 561 hours in all; 457 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 30 hours in all; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 925 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 30, 2023
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS-2 (piston); 925 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16L, 4,013 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 am from KVNY
Weather report (METAR): KVNY 021751Z 17008KT 10SM CLR 29/16 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP153 T02940156 10294 20211 58001
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
15 documents, released by the NTSB on August 20, 2025. 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.
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.