What happened
On October 19, 2025, at approximately 15:31 mountain daylight time, a JMB Aircraft VL-3LSA-912, registration N594TT, was involved in an accident near Erie, Colorado. The aircraft was being operated by Odyssey under 14 CFR Part 91 for the purpose of instructional flight.
While performing touch-and-go landings on runway 34 at Erie Municipal Airport (KEIK), the aircraft completed four circuits. During the fifth approach, ADS-B data indicated the aircraft descended to approximately 5,600 feet MSL and then climbed back to approximately 5,800 feet MSL. Witnesses observed that the aircraft did not touch down but instead leveled off and began a climb, which was consistent with a go-around maneuver.
Following this maneuver, witnesses at the airport and in the surrounding area observed the airplane tumble, flip, and spin toward the ground. Surveillance footage confirmed the aircraft entered a nose-low spin before impacting the ground. The aircraft struck the grass east of runway 34 and came to rest on a heading of approximately 295°.
The accident resulted in 2 fatal injuries, involving the pilot receiving instruction and the flight instructor.
The investigation
The wreckage was found to include the fuselage, empennage, both wings, engine, and propeller assembly. The main and nose landing gear were crushed directly beneath the wreckage, and the engine and forward fuselage sustained upward and aft crushing damage. The right wing was partially separated at the wing root and showed composite structural damage along its length and at the wing tip, while the left wing also exhibited partial separation at the wing root and structural damage along its length. The empennage had separated from the fuselage and was located adjacent to the main wreckage.
Investigators found that the GRS Rescue airframe parachute system did not deploy. The safety pin was found still secure in the activation handle inside the cabin, and the ballistic rocket remained in the safe position until it was deployed by first responders.