THE DTSB
Pending. Non Instrument pilot entered IMC and embedded thunderstorms and flew 13 minutes trying to survive. Early unreliable reports indicate that the aircraft broke apart, as not all of the aircraft ended up at the crash site.
U-FITAQP: 24) IN FLIGHT BREAKUP
Express 2000 FT | N519EA
- DTSB analysis published
Key facts
- DateMay 5, 2025
- Local time7:40 PM
- LightDay
- WeatherIMC
- Phase of flightEnroute
- People on board1
- Fatalities1
Accident Location
- City, State
- Polk, Ohio
- Latitude
- 40.934167
- Longitude
- -82.195556
Aircraft Info
- N Number
- N519EA
- Make
- Express
- Model
- 2000 FT
- Category / Class
- Aircraft Single Engine Land
- Amateur Built
- Yes
Pilot Info
- Pilot in command
- Wolfelt, Gary Hugh
- Gender
- Male
- Age
- 72
- Certification
- Private Pilot
- IFR rating
- No
- Medical
- Basic Med
- Flight school
- No
- Instructional flight
- No
Analysis
- Weather
- IMC
- Time of day
- Day
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Pilot error
- Yes
- Pilot incapacitation
- No
- People on board
- 1
- PIC fatality
- 1
- Total fatalities
- 1
- NTSB travel
- Unknown
- AQP category
- 24) IN FLIGHT BREAKUP →
Probable Cause
NTSB
None yet (final report not yet published).
Recommendation
THE DTSB
Pending.
NTSB
None issued. NTSB recommendations are rare and usually tied to high-profile accidents.
See the NTSB Recommendation Tracker →