Pilot Debrief

NORTH WING UUM INC. SPORT X2 near Parker Dam, CA — 2013-07-07

Final reportWPR13LA313
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Date
2013-07-07
Location
Parker Dam, CA, USA
Aircraft
NORTH WING UUM INC. SPORT X2
Registration
N467YN
Category
Trike
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

The student pilot’s abrupt maneuver to avoid transmission wires, which resulted in his loss of airplane control. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s decision to perform a low-altitude flight, his distracted attention, and his failure to monitor the environment for objects.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident were the pilot's decision to perform a low-altitude flight, his distracted attention, and his failure to monitor the environment for objects.

NTSB narrative

Witnesses observed the weight-shift-control aircraft flying at a low altitude down the river, and the solo student pilot waving to people on the ground. As the airplane approached a set of transmission wires about 100 feet above the ground, the pilot banked the airplane sharply right to avoid them. One witness said the bank angle was more than 90 degrees. It is likely that the pilot was unable to maintain control of the airplane during this maneuver as it lost altitude. The airplane subsequently struck another set of wires about 30 feet above the ground and cartwheeled to the ground.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided steep bank turn to prevent wire strike.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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