Pilot Debrief

AIRBORNE WINDSPORTS PTY LTD EDGE X CLASSIC near Rush City, MN — 2016-05-05

Final reportCEN16LA175
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Date
2016-05-05
Location
Rush City, MN, USA
Airport
KROS
Aircraft
AIRBORNE WINDSPORTS PTY LTD EDGE X CLASSIC
Registration
N701FP
Category
Trike
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain the appropriate pitch attitude during initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot’s decision to conduct a solo flight without a solo endorsement in an aircraft in which he had no experience flying.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's decision to conduct a solo flight without a solo endorsement in an aircraft in which he had no experience flying.

NTSB narrative

The student pilot was conducting a solo personal flight in the weight-shift-control aircraft. Video footage showed the airplane taking off, climbing to an estimated altitude of 300 to 400 ft, banking sharply left, descending, and then impacting terrain in a steep, nose-down attitude. The student did not have any solo endorsements on his student pilot certificate. The student had logged 14 hours in a different weight-shift-control aircraft but had never flown the accident aircraft type. The student's flight instructor said that he did not feel the student was ready to fly solo and that he had not endorsed him for solo flight. He further stated that the student mismanaged takeoffs and landings and had the tendency to "leave the [control] bar out" after takeoff instead of letting it come back, which increased the aircraft's pitch attitude and caused it to climb too steeply. It is likely that the student increased the aircraft's pitch attitude too much during the initial climb, which led to his loss of aircraft control and an aerodynamic stall.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Instructor did not endorse pilot for solo flight due to lack of readiness.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents7

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