# Accident 20220921023199A: Northwing Design APACHE SPORT, Southern Shores, NC, September 21, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 21, 2022, 10:00 local time
- Place: Southern Shores, NC
- Airport: Kill Devil Hills
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.1217° N, 75.7164° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1217&lon=-75.7164&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3283N, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3283N) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Northwing Design APACHE SPORT (registry code 05901DR, https://openairdocs.org/model/northwing-design-apache-sport) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 503DC (registry code 55582, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503dc) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NORTHWING DESIGN APACHE SPORT
- Reported engine: ROTAX 503DC
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA22LA427](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA427) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220921023199A

## Narrative

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

PASSENGER REPORTED PLANE TOOK OFF HEADED TO CIRCLE LOCATION WHERE THE TWO WERE STAYING, THEN FLEW LEVEL AT 3500FT MSL TO RETURN TO AIRPORT KFFA.  WHILE ENROUTE PIC TOLD PASSENGER THERE WAS POSSIBLE WIND SHEAR OR TURBULENCE ALONG THIS AREA.

SUDDENLY PASSENGER DESCRIBED WHAT HE CALLED WIND SHEAR AS IF HIT HARD, THEN HE SAW RIGHT WING STRUT COMPONENTS BREAK AND POKE THROUGH THE RIGHT WING FABRIC SKIN.  THEN HE SAW THE RIGHT WING COVER MOVING INWARD WITH MUCH LESS WING FOR LIFT AND AIRCRAFT SPIRALED DOWNWARD UNTIL IT HIT THE WATER.  PASSENGER STATED HE WAS IN THE WATER FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES BEFORE SOMEONE GOT HIM OUT OF THE WATER.  HE SAID HE HAD MINOR INJURIES.  THE PIC WAS FATAL.

THIS DETAIL WAS IDENTIFIED AND SUBMITTED IN THIS AMENDMENT OF THE ORIGINAL DETAILS BY THE AIIC. THE FIRST IMPACT SITE WAS UNACCESSIBLE. A HURRICANE MOVED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE SHORE NEAR KITTY HAWK WHERE AIIC WAS ABLE TO INSPECT AND PHOTOGRAPH DETAILS OF STRUCTURE AND FAILURES.

## 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 ERA22LA427](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA427), Sep 21, 2022: Northwing Design Apache Sport (N3283N), Southern Shores, NC, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A loss of aircraft control due to movement of the outer portion of the right wing fabric and displacement of wing ribs for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.