Probable cause
The in-flight failure of the left wing for undetermined reasons.
NTSB analysis
After stopping for fuel, the pilot departed for the second leg of a cross-country flight. About 45 minutes after departing, witnesses observed the special light sport airplane banking and yawing before one of its wings "folded up" and the airplane descended to the ground. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the left wing had failed in an upward (or positive) direction due to a fracture of the lower left wing spar chord. The subsequent overload failure of the wing resulted in a loss of control of the airplane. Metallurgical examination did not reveal any evidence of preexisting conditions or design or material deficiencies that may have contributed to the in-flight structural failure.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for NYC08FA158 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Apr 7, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Polk City, Florida
- Highest injury
- Fatal
- Fatal injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Chech Aircraft Works Spol Sro CH 601 XL RTF
- N-number
- N357DT
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.