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

February 13, 2015 · Robertson James F Velocity Std/Rg E · N112TH

Sebastian, FL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 13, 2015
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Sebastian, FL
Aircraft
Robertson James F Velocity Std/Rg E (2007)
Tail Number
N112TH
Operator
Andrew J Liptak
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA15LA130

The pilot had recently purchased the experimental, amateur-built airplane. He received 3.6 hours of familiarization training in another airplane by the same manufacturer during the 2 days before the accident while maintenance and inspections were performed on his airplane. Once the work was completed, the pilot departed on the accident flight. Witnesses reported that, immediately after rotation, they observed the right cabin door open. The airplane briefly maintained the runway heading and then began a "slow, lingering" left turn. One witness described the engine sound as increasing and decreasing between idle and full power. The airplane rolled left, then wings level, then left again before it descended to the ground. The airplane impacted trees near the airport perimeter; the right wing separated, and the fuselage was substantially damaged. Immediately after the accident, the pilot reported that he was taking off and that "the door blew open." The pilot subsequently reported that the airplane "pitched up violently" on takeoff and would not respond to nose-down pitch trim. Examination of the airplane revealed flight control continuity from the cockpit area to the flight control surfaces. The latch mechanism on the right cabin door was found intact and fully functional. The pitch trim was found in a nearly full nose-up setting, and, when activated, the pitch trim motor ran through its full range at its normal rate. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s loss of airplane control after takeoff, which resulted in collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to properly secure the cabin door and trim the airplane for takeoff, which resulted in the cabin door opening and the nose pitching up suddenly at liftoff.

Full Narrative

On February 13, 2015, about 0900 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Velocity STD/RG-E, N112TH, was substantially damaged during collision with terrain after takeoff from Sebastian Municipal Airport (X26), Sebastian, Florida. The private pilot/owner was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.According to the chief pilot of Velocity Aircraft, the airplane was recently purchased by the pilot. The sale was brokered by the previous owner, and the airplane was flown to the Velocity facility for a conditional inspection, the installation of new door latches, and delivery to the new owner. The pilot was provided with 3.6 hours of familiarization training in a Velocity company airplane over the two days prior to the accident. The accident flight was witnessed by the chief pilot and others, and their descriptions of the event were consistent throughout. The airplane departed runway 28 after a ground roll of approximately 1,000 feet and passing the intersection of runway 05/23. Immediately after rotation, the witnesses watched the right cabin door open. The airplane maintained runway heading briefly, then began a "slow, lingering" left turn back towards runway 05. One witness described the engine sound as increasing and decreasing between idle and full power. The airplane would alternately roll left, then wings level, and roll left again before it ultimately descended to ground contact south of runway 05. The airplane impacted trees near the airport perimeter, where the right wing separated and the fuselage was substantially damaged. Immediately after the accident, a responding police officer asked the pilot what happened. The pilot reported that he was taking off, and when the airplane reached about 50 feet, at approximately 80-90 knots, "the door blew open." In a subsequent interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector, the pilot said the airplane "pitched up violently" on takeoff, and wouldn't respond to nose-down pitch trim. Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector revealed that control continuity could be established from the flight control surfaces on the left wing to the cockpit area and from the flight control surfaces in the right wing to the break. The control stick was broken off in the cockpit. The latch mechanism on the right cabin door was found intact and fully functional. The pitch trim was found in a nearly full nose-up setting. Electrical power was applied, and when activated the pitch trim motor ran through its full range at its "normal" rate. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane. Examination of his logbook revealed 935 total hours of flight experience, of which 9 hours were in the accident airplane make and model. His most recent FAA third class medical certificate was issued on January 31, 2015. The airplane was manufactured in 2007 and was equipped with a Superior IO-360 series, 180 hp, reciprocating engine. The airplane's most recent conditional inspection was completed on December 16, 2014 at 79 total aircraft hours.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:00 EST
Nearest AirportSebastian Municipal (0nm S)
Runway28
Runway Length3199 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftRobertson James F Velocity Std/Rg E
Tail NumberN112TH
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAndrew J Liptak
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsSuperior · IO-360 · Reciprocating · 180
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 72 · Third Class · Serious

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind360° @ 9 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 48
Altimeter30.15 inHg
Observation Time14:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data