Kyle Koncak AVENTURA II N508K

Summary

On 3 July 2025 at about 14:15 local time, a Kyle Koncak AVENTURA II registered N508K was involved in an accident near DeLand, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 July 2025 at 14:15

Classification

Accident

Location

DeLand, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Deland Muni-Sidney H Taylor Fl (DED)

Coordinates

29.0642, -81.2830

Aircraft

Kyle Koncak AVENTURA II

Registration

N508K

Category

Airplane

Year built

2018

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA25LA256

1 person was seriously injured.

The uncertificated pilot’s failure to remove an improvised gust lock which resulted in a loss of aircraft control at an altitude too low to recover.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The uncertificated pilot was attempting to depart in the accident airplane. Surveillance video from the airport captured the accident sequence and showed the airplane in a steep right bank with the wings near vertical and descending. The airplane impacted the ground resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Postaccident body camera video from first responders showed a seat cushion strap wrapped around the control stick. A mechanic who worked at the airport reported that they used the seat cushion strap as an improvised gust lock, with this strap wrapped around the control stick, the stick would be held fully aft and to the right. Postaccident examination found no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory performed toxicology testing of blood that had been collected from the pilot at the hospital on the day of the accident at 1045. Methamphetamine was detected at 536 ng/mL and amphetamine was detected at 62 ng/mL. Alprazolam was detected at 31 ng/mL. In living people, methamphetamine blood concentrations of 20-50 ng/mL are typical with medicinal use, while methamphetamine blood concentrations over 200 ng/mL generally represent abuse. The pilot’s blood methamphetamine level indicates he likely had abused methamphetamine and was likely experiencing some impairing effects at the time of the accident. Methamphetamine use can severely impair piloting abilities, as the effects of use include poor judgment, risky behavior, and cognitive dysfunction. However, the specifics of these effects cannot be determined from a single measured level. In addition, alprazolam and the conditions for which it is typically prescribed have the potential to cause impairment.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.