Pilot Debrief

Aerotrike Cobra near Santa Teresa, NM — 2023-04-01

Final reportWPR23FA138
Sign in to save
Date
2023-04-01
Location
Santa Teresa, NM, USA
Airport
DNA
Aircraft
Aerotrike Cobra
Registration
UNREG
Category
Trike
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

The pilot’s exceedance of the aircraft’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting a personal flight in the weight-shift-control aircraft. A friend of the pilot, who was flying in the area in his powered parachute, witnessed the accident aircraft flying in level flight toward his position. When he looked back, the aircraft was turning toward him, and shortly thereafter, he saw the aircraft in a flat spin that continued until it impacted the ground. Examination of the wreckage at the accident site revealed that the parachute likely deployed from its containment bag as a result of ground impact forces. The parachute T-handle remained in the handle mount and the safety pin was found adjacent to the pin hole area. The safety pin engagement surface area exhibited less sooting residue than the head of the pin, consistent with it being installed in the T-handle mount at the time of the accident. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot exceeded the aircraft’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering, resulting in an aerodynamic stall/spin and loss of control.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided the maneuver that led to the flat spin.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents5

Related mishaps