Pilot Debrief

AIRTIME CYGNET near Pensacola, FL — 2018-08-27

Final reportERA18FA235
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Date
2018-08-27
Location
Pensacola, FL, USA
Aircraft
AIRTIME CYGNET
Registration
N186AT
Category
Trike
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

The student pilot's loss of aircraft control for undetermined reasons.

NTSB narrative

Following a 1-year period without flying, the student pilot completed two flights in his amphibious weight-shift-control aircraft with a flight instructor before departing on his first solo flight. The instructor reported that, during the two instructional flights, the student completed takeoffs and landings, steep turns, stalls, and spiral recovery "perfectly." After exiting the aircraft, the instructor told the student to perform several water landings, with traffic patterns 500 ft above ground level (agl). The student departed and, on the downwind leg, the aircraft entered a left descending spiral that continued until water impact. Examination of the engine and airframe revealed no preimpact mechanical failures or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Instructor could have prevented solo flight after observing pilot's performance.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents6

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