Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

June 14, 2010 · Air Creation GTE · N227EH

Springville, UT

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 14, 2010
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Springville, UT
Aircraft
Air Creation GTE
Tail Number
N227EH
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR10LA292

The non-certified pilot purchased the weight-shift category light sport airplane approximately 3 months prior to the accident and was departing on his first flight when the accident occurred. A family member reported that the pilot had flown non-motorized hang gliders 40 years prior to the accident, and he had not obtained instruction in the airplane prior to departing on the solo flight. Witnesses observed the airplane, which resembled a powered hang glider, accelerate and takeoff from an open school yard. Immediately after it got airborne, it impacted telephone and power lines that ran along a road at the end of the school yard. An amateur video recording of the accident flight depicted a red and white motorized hang glider accelerate across a schoolyard baseball field, get airborne and, 2 seconds later, impact residential telephone and power cables. The airplane rotated violently around the power lines and came to rest on the street below. The engine could be heard operating until the airplane’s collision with the power lines. The power lines are estimated to have been approximately 35 feet above the ground. While toxicology testing was consistent with relatively recent use of two separate narcotic painkillers and one prescription anti-anxiety medication, the toxicology findings were not consistent with impairment by any of the medications at the time of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and his failure to maintain clearance from obstacles during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience.

Full Narrative

On June 14, 2010, at 1245 mountain daylight time, an Air Creation GTE, N227EH, collided with residential telephone and power lines immediately after takeoff from a local school yard in Springville, Utah. The pilot operated the experimental category weight-shift light sport aircraft (LSA) under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The non-certificated pilot was killed, and the aircraft was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot, age 59, did not hold a pilot certificate or medical certificate. The pilot’s son stated that the pilot had flown hang gliders in the 1970’s, but had never flown a motorized one before. The pilot purchased the aircraft on March 19, 2010. The pilot’s son indicated that the pilot had not received any instruction in the aircraft, and that this was his first flight. The tandem seat aircraft, serial number GTE503601, was manufactured in 2004. It was powered by a Rotax 503, 50 hp engine, and equipped with a Powerfin 3-bladed propeller. Review of copies of maintenance logbook records showed an annual inspection was completed May 8, 2009, and the airframe total time was 130 hours. The pilot’s son believed the aircraft had 186 total airframe hours at the time of the accident. Witnesses observed the aircraft, which resembled a powered hang glider, accelerate and takeoff from an open school yard. Immediately after it got airborne it impacted telephone and power lines that ran along the road that demarcated the end of the school yard. An amateur video recording of the accident flight was provided to the Safety Board Investigator by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the scene, and who had received the video from a witness. The video depicts a red and white motorized hang glider accelerate across a school yard baseball field, become airborne, and 2 seconds later, impact residential telephone and power cables directly in its path. The aircraft rotated violently around the power lines and came to rest on the street below. The engine could be heard operating all the way up to the aircraft's collision with the power lines. The power lines are estimated to have been approximately 35 feet above the ground. An autopsy was performed on the pilot June 15, 2010, by the State of Utah Medical Examiner, Salt Lake City, Utah. The autopsy findings include multiple blunt force injuries. The cause of death was reported as the result of the blunt force injuries to the head and torso. Forensic toxicology was performed on specimens from the pilot by the FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The toxicology report stated no ethanol was detected in urine. The following screened drugs were detected; 0.578 ug/ml 7-amino-clonazepam detected in liver, 7-amino-clonazepam detected in urine, 10.77 ug/ml acetaminophen detected in urine, 1.893 ug/ml codeine detected in urine, 0.144 ug/ml dihydrocdeine detected in urine, 0.326 up/ml hyrdocodone detected in urine, 0.325 ug/ml hydromophone detected in urine, and 3.198 up/ml morphine detected in urine.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:45 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAir Creation GTE
Tail NumberN227EH
Aircraft CategoryWsft
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotax · 503 · Reciprocating · 52
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 59 · None · Fatal

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind220° @ 5 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 45 C
Altimeter30.20 inHg
Observation Time18:48
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data