- Date
- October 10, 2008, 13:21 local (17:21 UTC)
- Place
- West Terre Haute, IN
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N5125APegasus Quantum
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 23, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration, Indianapolis FSDO
- FAA report
- 20081010850349A
- Case key
- 69278
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for the crosswind during the go-around. Contributing to the accident was the crosswind condition and the trees.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The experimental weight-shift-control aircraft was attempting to land on a north/south private grass airstrip when the accident occurred. The pilot reported that the winds were from the east at 10-15 knots. A nearby weather station recorded the wind to be from the southeast at 10 knots. The crosswind limitation for the airplane was 10 mph (9 knots), according to the aircraft operation manual. The pilot initially attempted a low pass over the runway heading south, but was unable to compensate for the crosswind and the airplane drifted to the right. He elected to perform a go-around and attempt a landing to the north. During the subsequent approach, he was unable to maintain runway heading again and elected to go-around. During the go-around the airplane drifted into trees off the side of the runway.
Factual narrative
The experimental weight-shift control aircraft was attempting to land on a north/south private grass airstrip when the accident occurred. The pilot reported that the winds were from the east at 10-15 knots. A nearby weather station recorded the wind to be from the southeast at 10 knots. The crosswind limitation for the airplane was 10 mph (9 knots), according to the aircraft operation manual. The pilot initially attempted a low pass over the runway heading south, but was unable to compensate for the crosswind and the airplane drifted to the right. He elected to perform a go-around and attempt a landing to the north. During the subsequent approach, he was unable to maintain runway heading again and elected to go-around. During the go-around the airplane drifted into trees off the side of the runway.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5125A
- Reported as
- Pegasus Quantum
- Category
- Weight-shift, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 7735
- Airframe hours
- 231
- Engine
- Rotax 503, 55 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 9, 2008
- Departed
- K1I3 · Bloomfield, IN
- Destination
- PVT · West Terre Haut, IN
- Airport
- PVT · Private Airstrip, runway 36, 1,200 × 80 ft, grass/turf
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Sport Pilot
- Medical
- Sport pilot
- Last flight review
- October 10, 2008
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 557 total · 557 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.15 inHg
- Observed at
- KHUF, 9 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.