Earthstar Aircraft Gull 2000 accident near Curtiss, WI
On June 30, 2021, an Earthstar Aircraft Gull 2000 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Curtiss, WI. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- June 30, 2021
- Place
- Curtiss, WI
- Aircraft
- Earthstar Aircraft Gull 2000 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 44.984°N, 90.462°W
- NTSB ID
- 20210630103391
Official records · CEN21FA297
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn June 30, 2021, about 0450 central daylight time, an Earthstar Aircraft Gull 2000 experimental light-sport airplane, N1712L, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Curtiss, Wisconsin. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. An individual who was interested in purchasing the airplane stated that the pilot offered to fly the airplane from Curtiss, Wisconsin, to New Richmond Regional Airport (RNH), New Richmond, Wisconsin, where he could examine it. The potential buyer suggested to meet at RNH about 1200, but the pilot subsequently asked to meet at 0600. The potential buyer agreed to meet at 0600 believing that the pilot had to return for work after their meeting. The potential buyer stated that on the morning of the accident, about 0600, there was low ground fog at RNH. When the airplane did not arrive at RNH, about 0615, he began to call and send text messages to the pilot but never received any replies. Around 1100, he called the Clark County Sheriff’s Office to report that the pilot did not arrive at RNH. According to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, the last cellular activity recorded for the pilot’s mobile phone occurred about 0447. A witness who lived near the private airstrip saw the airplane on the ground at the airstrip a few minutes before 0500. The witness stated that it was foggy and that she could only see the airplane’s lights but heard the airplane’s engine operating as the airplane took off to the west. Another witness who lived
Probable cause
The non-instrument-rated pilot’s decision to depart into instrument meteorological conditions with dense fog and low clouds, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of airplane control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s self-imposed pressure to depart on the flight.
More accidents in WI
- Douglas DC-9-14, Sep 6, 1985
- Beech 200, Nov 16, 1987
- Piper PA-28-140, Feb 3, 1991
- Piper PA-32R-300, Aug 19, 1990
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Browse: Wisconsin
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
