Pilot Debrief

AIRBORNE X-Series near North Pole, AK — 2018-10-07

Final reportANC19LA004
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Date
2018-10-07
Location
North Pole, AK, USA
Airport
78AA
Aircraft
AIRBORNE X-Series
Registration
UNREG
Category
Trike
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The student pilot's decision to fly the weight-shift-controlled airplane with no training in the airplane type, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain shortly after takeoff.

NTSB narrative

The student pilot indicated that this flight was his first in the unregistered trike, and he had no flight training in the airplane but had read the manuals. After applying full power and reaching an airspeed of about 30 knots, he pushed forward on the control bar to initiate the liftoff. He stated that, shortly after liftoff, the trike turned right, "stalled," and impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the carriage keel and wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he believed the trike was an ultralight aircraft. However, according to the trike's operating manual, the aircraft specifications exceeded the maximum takeoff weight, fuel capacity, and seat limitations stated in 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 103 for ultralight aircraft. It is likely that, given the pilot's general lack of experience and training in the airplane type, he lost control during takeoff.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot should have received training before attempting first flight in the trike.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents2

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