Skip to content

CEN13CA430

2013-07-13 · Schertz, Texas, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport TS67

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The noncertificated pilot's operation of the airplane, which resulted in impact with terrain.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that has not held any kind of pilot certificate since his student pilot certificate expired about 40 years ago. He also reported that he has no record of receiving any flight instruction. During takeoff, after liftoff from the departure end of the runway, the airspeed was too slow and the airplane would not climb and would not accelerate. The airplane drifted to the left and impacted trees and terrain on the edge of the airfield property. After the pilot and passenger exited the airplane there was an explosion and the airplane was destroyed by the postimpact fire. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He also reported that he is really lucky to be alive after this accident and "this accident will do it for him ... he is going to stop flying now". The pilot reported that he had not held any kind of pilot certificate since his student pilot certificate expired about 40 years ago. He also reported that he had no record of receiving any flight instruction. During takeoff, after liftoff from the departure end of the runway, the airspeed was too slow and the airplane would not climb and would not accelerate. The airplane drifted to the left and impacted trees and terrain on the edge of the airfield property. After the pilot and passenger exited the airplane there was an explosion and the airplane was destroyed by the postimpact fire. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Qualification/certification-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Airspeed-Not attained/maintained - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2013_CEN13CA430.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Search this event elsewhere

External sources are reported, not agency: signal that something happened, not fact about what happened.