Pilot Debrief

SOLO WINGS WINDLASS near Dalton, GA — 2019-09-28

Final reportERA19LA286
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Date
2019-09-28
Location
Dalton, GA, USA
Airport
GA72
Aircraft
SOLO WINGS WINDLASS
Registration
UNREG
Category
Trike
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

The pilot's exceedance of the aircraft's critical angle of attack during a turn shortly after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent impact with terrain. Contributing was the pilot's lack of experience in the accident aircraft.

Contributing factors

Contributing was the pilot's lack of experience in the accident aircraft.

NTSB narrative

The airline transport pilot departed in the weight-shift control aircraft and climbed to just above tree height before entering a turn to the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern. Witnesses reported that the aircraft appeared to stall in the turn before making an uncontrolled, turning descent toward the ground. Although the pilot had received about 13 hours of instruction in weight-shift control aircraft, the accident flight was his first flight in the accident aircraft, and he did not have an endorsement for solo operation of a weight-shift control aircraft. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. It is likely that the pilot failed to maintain airspeed during the turn, which resulted in an exceedance of the aircraft's critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot should not have flown without proper endorsement for weight-shift control.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents8

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