Pilot Debrief

NORTHWING NAVAJO near Daingerfield, TX — 2016-11-19

Final reportCEN17LA042
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Date
2016-11-19
Location
Daingerfield, TX, USA
Airport
8F5
Aircraft
NORTHWING NAVAJO
Registration
N360XL
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The noncertificated pilot’s unfamiliarity with the aircraft, which resulted in a loss of control during an unintentional takeoff.

NTSB narrative

The noncertificated pilot stated that he was unfamiliar with the accident aircraft, a light sport trike; only intended to do a high-speed taxi; and had no intention to fly. He indicated that, during the taxi test, the airplane "must have experienced a gust of wind," and the airplane lifted off, turned hard to the left, and crashed into the trees alongside the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wing. The postaccident examination did not note any mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. The pilot reported that he had received some flight training and had some experience flying ultralights but that the controls in the ultralights were different than the controls in the accident aircraft.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Owner should not have attempted to fly without proper registration and pilot certification.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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