Pilot Debrief

AVIATE RAPTOR near Bealeton, VA — 2008-05-23

Final reportMIA08LA105
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Date
2008-05-23
Location
Bealeton, VA, USA
Aircraft
AVIATE RAPTOR
Registration
N74TK
Category
Trike
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

An in-flight loss of control for undetermined reasons.

NTSB narrative

After takeoff the pilot performed turns in both directions before continuing in a southeast direction. Global Positioning System data recovered from the accident aircraft revealed that while flying on nearly a constant heading, the airplane decelerated 36 miles-per-hour in a 6 second period. One witness heard a sputtering sound from the engine and several observed the aircraft descending steeply before it collided with trees. Another witness thought she saw a partially deployed parachute trailing from the steeply descending aircraft, but examination of the wreckage revealed the on-board ballistic parachute deployed on tree contact, and not prior to the initial upset. A snap hook utilized to secure the nose wires to the attach point of the nose hinge was not attached at either end, and was not located; however, this did not appear to be related to the accident for neither the crossbar nor the hinge displayed compression damage consistent with the snap hook separating in flight. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have checked and secured nose wires before flight.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 12 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents12

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