# NTSB ANC19LA004: Airborne X-Series, North Pole, AK, October 7, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 7, 2018, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: North Pole, AK - Coordinates: 64.771667, -147.246673 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7717&lon=-147.2467&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 19, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 98537 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC19LA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98537/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98537 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC19LA004 ## 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. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Training: total instruct/training recvd](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031510): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative On October 7, 2018, about 1500 Alaska daylight time, an unregistered weight-shift controlled, Airborne X-series Redback "Trike" aircraft, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control and impact with terrain shortly after takeoff from Lakewood Airport (78AA), North Pole, Alaska. The student pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 visual flight rules (VFR) flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. According to the student pilot, the flight was his first flight in the unregistered trike and he had received no flight training in the aircraft prior to the accident but had downloaded and then read the aircraft's manuals. After applying full power and reaching an airspeed of about 30 knots he pushed forward on the control bar to initiate the liftoff. Shortly after liftoff the aircraft turned right, felt like it" stalled" and impacted the ground resulting 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. 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. After repeated attempts, the pilot did not submit an NTSB Pilot/Operator Accident Report form (NTSB Form 6120.1) as required. ## Aircraft - Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: AIRBORNE X-Series - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: 503-778 - Engines: Rotax 503 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Departed: PAEI, Eielson AFB, AK - Airport: 78AA, Lakewood - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 34; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: front ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Observed at: PAEI ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 25, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98537. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 991 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473678&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 291 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473679&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Master.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. --- 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.