# Accident 20141026018949A: Solo Wings AQUILLA, Pinecrest, FL, October 26, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 26, 2014, 10:00 local time
- Place: Pinecrest, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.8394° N, 81.6303° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8394&lon=-81.6303&mi=10
- Aircraft: N55446, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N55446) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Solo Wings AQUILLA (registry code 05901B2, https://openairdocs.org/model/solo-wings-aquilla) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 582E (registry code 55557, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SOLO WINGS AQUILLA
- Reported engine: ROTAX 582E
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 7,900 total, 2 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA15CA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA031) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141026018949A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT HE HAD BEEN RECEIVING INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHTS SINCE SUNDAY MORNING OCTOBER 28, 2014. AT WHICH POINT BY MID DAY SUNDAY, THE INSTRUCTOR AND ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ FELT THAT HE COULD CONDUCT HIS FIRST SOLO FLIGHT. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKING OFF ON HIS SOLO FLIGHT IT WAS APPARENT THAT THE WINDS ALOFT HAD CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY FROM WHEN HE WAS UP WITH THE INSTRUCTOR. HE ENCOUNTERED GUSTS AND TURBULENCE ABOUNDED ABOVE 50 FT. HE MADE SEVERAL TRAFFIC PATTERN IN THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF A STABLE APPROACH. AFTER ABOUT THIRTY (30) MINUTES OF CIRCLING IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN HE COULD NOT ACHIEVE A STABLE APPROACH. HE FLEW ABOUT TWO (2) MILES SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT, AND SET UP FOR AN EXTREMELY LONG APPROACH. AT ABOUT LESS THAN ONE-QUARTER MILE FROM THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD. HE ENCOUNTERED A VIOLENT TURBULENCE AT WHICH POINT HE LOST CONTROL AND IMPACTED THE LAKE

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA15CA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA031), Oct 26, 2014: Solo Wings Aquilla (N55446), Eustis, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the final approach in turbulent conditions, which resulted in a collision with water.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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