This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N594TT
- History of Flight:
On October 19, 2025, at about 1531 local time, a JMB Aircraft VL-3LSA-912 Evolution, N594TT, registered to N594TT Rental LLC out of Edgewater, Florida, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Erie Municipal Airport (EIK/KEIK), Erie, Colorado. The two occupants onboard sustained fatal injuries. The local training flight originated from KEIK.
Flight-tracking history shows that the airplane was frequently flown out of KEIK on local training flights.
According to preliminary Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) data (figure 1), the airplane departed runway 33 at 1505 and proceeded into the traffic pattern at the airport. The airplane conducted 5 touch-and-go(es) on runway 33 which appeared uneventful. The accident occurred during the 6th touch-and-go.
At 1529, the airplane entered a wider base-to-final turn for runway 33. At about 1530:30, the airplane was at 5650 ft, 90 knots groundspeed with an average rate of -400 feet per minute (fpm) as it was on final approach to the runway. At about 1530:59, the airplane touched down on runway 33 with a reported groundspeed of 72 knots and initiated a climbing right hand turn. At 1531:05, the airplane was at 5800 ft, 68 knots GS, and climbing 600 fpm over the runway. At about 1531:11, the airplane began a 250 fpm descent with a notable increase in the groundspeed. At 1531:12, the descent rate was 1200 fpm, and groundspeed was 79 knots. At 1531:13, the descent rate was 1000 fpm, and groundspeed was 55 knots. The next few data returns showed a groundspeed of 256 knots (probably an error) and an average rate of -2600 fpm. The last ADS-B return was recorded at 1531:17, the airplane was at 5180 ft, 46 knots GS, with an average rate of over -10000 feet per minute (fpm).
- Pilot Information:
Unknown at the time.
- Airplane Information:
The accident aircraft, serial number VL-3-521, was manufactured in 2023. It was single-engine, cantilever low-wing a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit, retractable tricycle landing gear, powered by a Rotax 912ULS four cylinder, liquid and air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine, rated at 101 hp.
According to the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH):
The fuselage is a carbon shell with carbon/kevlar seats integrated.
The wing is a monospar construction with a sandwich skin composed of two layers of carbon and special foam. Control surfaces and empennage is of the same construction.
The aircraft is controlled by a dual push-pull control system, only rudder drive is controlled by cable. The ailerons and elevator are controlled by the control stick located between the pilot’s legs (co-pilot’s). The rudder is controlled by the rudder pedals. Flaps are manually operated by control lever located between the pilots on the fuselage main spar.
Section 2.9 Approved manoeuvres:
Aeroplane category: NORMAL.
The aeroplane is approved for Normal and manoeuvres listed below: - Steep turn not exceeding 60 bank.
Warning Aerobatics, intentional spins and stalls are prohibited!
Figure 3 shows the stall speeds reported in the POH:
- Wreckage and Impact Information:
The airplane came to rest upright about 190 feet from runway 33. The wreckage consisted of the entire airplane. Both wings and tail remained attached to the airframe. There was no post crash fire. The propeller hub remained attached to the engine, and the engine remained attached to its mounts. The impact appears consistent with a low altitude aerodynamic stall/spin. (Figure 4)
- Airport Information:
Erie Municipal Airport is a non-towered public airport located about 3 miles south of Erie, Colorado. The airport field elevation was 5119.4 ft. The airport features a single runway 15/33 that is 4700 x 60 ft.
- Weather:
At 1515 (16 minutes before accident), the weather observation facility at KEIK, recorded wind from 170° at 5 knots, 10 miles visibility, a scattered ceiling (SCT) at 32,000 ft AGL, temperature 23.7°C, dew point -4.8°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.86 inches of mercury.
At 1535 (4 minutes after accident), the weather observation facility at KEIK, recorded wind from 280° (Direction is variable between 150 and 350) at 7 knots, gusting 15 knots, 10 miles visibility, a scattered ceiling (SCT) at 12,000 ft AGL, temperature 23.5°C, dew point -4.7°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.86 inches of mercury. The calculated density altitude was roughly 7393 ft. The calculated headwind was about 9.64 knots, and crosswind was 11.50 knots.
(2) METARs:
METAR KEIK 192115Z AUTO 17005KT 10SM SCT320 24/M05 A2986 RMK AO2 T02371048
METAR KEIK 192135Z AUTO 28007G15KT 150V350 10SM CLR 23/M05 A2986 RMK AO2 T02351047
METAR KEIK 192155Z AUTO 26014G26KT 10SM CLR 26/M06 A2985 RMK AO2 T02571063
(3) Area Forecast Discussion:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 204 PM MDT Sun Oct 19 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Light mountain snow mainly north of I-70 late tonight through Monday morning with strong winds as well. Blowing snow over the higher mountain passes. - Expect minor travel impacts for the Monday morning commute north of I-70. - Widespread strong winds, and critical fire weather conditions develop over the southern foothills and plains from Boulder County southward on Monday. - Lighter winds with more seasonal temperatures Tuesday onward. Potential for some showers late Wednesday night and Thursday, with best chances in the mountains and across the Palmer Divide. && .DISCUSSION /Through Sunday/... Issued at 151 PM MDT Sun Oct 19 2025 A quick moving upper level trough will move across nrn CO late tonight into Mon morning. QG fields show favorable mid level ascent with this feature after midnight thru 15z on Mon with favorable moisture and decent orographics for the nrn mtns. Will see snow amounts in the 1 to 4 inch range with locally up to 6 inches over the Park Range. Strong winds will also bring blowing snow over the higher passes as well. Appears most of the snow will be along and north of the I-70 mtn corridor. By mid to late morning, moisture will quickly decrease with mid level descent developing so snow will end before noon. Across the plains it will be mainly dry late tonight through Mon. Meanwhile, expect very windy conditions to develop late tonight across the higher terrain and across the plains Mon morning. Overall, cross-sections never really show any defined mtn wave although cross-barrier flow will be strong. As subsidence moves across Mon morning, may see some mixing down of stronger winds into the foothills for a brief period of time. HRRR is more agressive with this happening versus other hi res data. Overall, the normal windy areas may see a few gusts to 75 mph, for a brief period of time, focused in the 15z-18z timeframe. However, due to expected short duration and limited coverage area will refrain from issuing a High Wind watch. Meanwhile, above 10500 ft will likely see a few gusts up to 80 mph over the highest mtn peaks thru midday. Across the plains, will see very windy conditions by mid morning thru mid aftn. Wind gusts from 45 to 55 mph will certainly be possible with a few localized gusts up to 60 mph. Naturally could see some blowing dust as well in open areas. For Mon night into Tue, dry WNW flow aloft will be across the area. Areas along the I-25 Corridor and across the plains that didn`t freeze this morning should do so by Tue morning. Highs on Tue will be in the 60s across nern CO. Looking ahead to Wed, an upper level ridge will build into the area ahead of a weather system which will move into the area on Thu. Highs on Wed will remain mild with dry conditions expected. On Thu, the upper level system will move across the state with most of the energy focused over srn CO based on current model data. As the system moves across there will be a good chc of snow in the mtns with a good chc of rain over portions of the plains especially from south of Denver to the Limon area. Highs will drop back below seasonal levels. By Fri, the system should move to the east of the area with dry conditions and seasonal temperatures. For next weekend, rather strong westerly flow aloft will develop over the area. Thus expect windy conditions over the higher terrain with a chc of snow by Sun. Across the plains it looks dry with above normal temperatures. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS through 18Z Monday/... Issued at 1158 AM MDT Sun Oct 19 2025 Wind will be the main concern as there will be VFR conditions otherwise. Light southwesterly winds will eventually give way to westerly winds this afternoon. The most likely time the westerly winds develop is around 20Z but it could certainly be as late as 22 or 23Z given the high cloud cover limiting mixing. Drainage winds will develop for most of the night before a cold front moves across the terminals. The most likely timing for the cold front to move through is between 09-11Z. Winds will shift to the north after the front with brief gusty winds up to 30 knots. Winds will then weaken until around an hour after sunrise. The rest of the day Monday will be quite windy with gusts up to 40 knots out of the west-northwest.
- Additional Information:
On August 18, 2025, at about 1520 LT, a JMB VL-3LSA-912 Sprint, N593TT, registered to N593TT Rental LLC out of Edgewater, Florida, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident at Erie (EIK). The FAA reported that the airplane encountered a wind gust on landing and suffered a lose of control. Both occupants were not injured.
Additional Figures (Flysto):
This aircraft has fixed, tricycle gear, not retractable.
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