# NTSB ANC09CA061: Airborne Edge 582 T, N35240, Fairbanks, AK, July 5, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 4, 2009, 17:00 local (Jul 5, 2009, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Fairbanks, AK
- Coordinates: 64.803886, -147.762496 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8039&lon=-147.7625&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration (Airworthiness)
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74237
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC09CA061
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74237/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74237
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09CA061

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while on approach to land, resulting in an in-flight collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Airborne EDGE 582 TRIKE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=05903KA), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Experience/qualifications: total experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Airborne EDGE 582 TRIKE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md?model=05903KA), [All aircraft, 126 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Airborne EDGE 582 TRIKE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05903KA), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Airborne EDGE 582 TRIKE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=05903KA), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) (defining event); cases with it: [Airborne EDGE 582 TRIKE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=05903KA), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md)
- [Approach: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Airborne EDGE 582 TRIKE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05903KA), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Airborne EDGE 582 TRIKE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05903KA), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot reported that while taxiing his recently purchased, experimental light sport weight-shift control airplane on a residential driveway, he pushed the control bar forward, and a gust of wind lifted the airplane. He said that he was not intending to fly the airplane, but due to the gusty wind conditions, he elected to fly to the nearest airport instead of returning to the driveway. In his written report to the NTSB the pilot reported that he encountered windshear while on a southwesterly approach to Runway 24, which “slammed me into the ground.” The airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane, and noted in his written report that the accident could have been avoided if he had not been taxiing the airplane in gusty wind conditions, with little previous flying experience. At the time of the accident a nearby aviation weather reporting station reported winds to be 260 degrees at 14 knots.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot reported that while taxiing his recently purchased, experimental light sport weight-shift control airplane on a residential driveway, he pushed the control bar forward, and a gust of wind lifted the airplane. He said that he was not intending to fly the airplane, but due to the gusty wind conditions, he elected to fly to the nearest airport instead of returning to the driveway. In his written report to the NTSB the pilot reported that he encountered windshear while on a southwesterly approach to Runway 24, which “slammed me into the ground.” The airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane, and noted in his written report that the accident could have been avoided if he had not been taxiing the airplane in gusty wind conditions, with little previous flying experience. At the time of the accident a nearby aviation weather reporting station reported winds to be 260 degrees at 14 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N35240](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N35240-2013-10-29), registration cancelled 2013-10-29, S/N 582-649, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRBORNE EDGE 582 T
- Registry model: [Airborne EDGE 582 TRIKE](https://openairdocs.org/model/airborne-edge-582-trike) (registry code 05903KA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 582DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582dcdi) (registry code 55562, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Weight-shift
- Serial number: 582-649
- Airframe hours: 86
- Engines: ROTAX 582-DCDI 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Richard Ray Brown
- Registered owner: Richard Ray Brown
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2009, 1 hours before
- Departed: Fairbanks, AK
- Destination: MTF, Fairbanks, AK
- Airport: MTF, Metro Field Airport, runway 24, 4,600 × 80 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 57; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 5 total, 5 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: PAFA, 25 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20090704025249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090704025249A), Jul 4, 2009: Airborne EDGE 582 TR, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that he was practicing taxing at a residential location and became Airborne, he then proceeded to metro field and while attempting to land…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 9, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74237. 626 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 626 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318574&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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.

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