Pilot Debrief

AIRBORNE WINDSPORTS PTY LTD XT-912 near Alamogordo, NM — 2009-06-15

Final reportCEN09CA362
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Date
2009-06-15
Location
Alamogordo, NM, USA
Airport
KALM
Aircraft
AIRBORNE WINDSPORTS PTY LTD XT-912
Registration
N594VZ
Category
Trike
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control while landing with gusting winds.

NTSB narrative

The sport pilot was performing a touch-and-go landing on Runway 03. The pilot had checked weather conditions approximately 15 minutes prior, and the winds were from 360 degrees at 11 knots gusting to 20 knots. During this landing, the winds were reported to be from 360 degrees at approximately 8 knots. The pilot decided to angle his landing on the runway approximately 20 degrees, since the weight-shift airplane did not require a long ground run. Upon touchdown, a gust of wind pushed the airplane off the side of the runway. The pilot corrected back to the runway and attempted to take off. Another gust of wind lifted one side of the wing resulting in a loss of directional control. The weight-shift airplane rolled inverted before coming to rest on the runway, causing substantial damage to the fabric wing, wing spars, and suspension cables.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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