# NTSB CEN10LA339: Airborne Windsport Edge, N55857, Ft. Lupton, CO, June 23, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 23, 2010, 11:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Ft. Lupton, CO - Coordinates: 40.845832, -104.8125 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8458&lon=-104.8125&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-aerobatics: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report June 14, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 76415 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA339 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76415/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76415 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA339 ## Probable cause The pilot intentionally performed prohibited aerobatic maneuvers that damaged the carriage wing attachment hang point and collapsed the wing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Airborne WINDSPORT EDGE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=05903ZM), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Wing structure: attach fittings (on wing)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035740): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Airborne WINDSPORT EDGE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035740/cases.md?model=05903ZM), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035740/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Airborne WINDSPORT EDGE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=05903ZM), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Airborne WINDSPORT EDGE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05903ZM), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-aerobatics: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337) (defining event); cases with it: [Airborne WINDSPORT EDGE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md?model=05903ZM), [All aircraft, 290 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Airborne WINDSPORT EDGE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05903ZM), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis A witness observed the weight-shift aircraft performing aerobatic maneuvers, notably “loops and wingovers,” for about five minutes. The witness stated that during the last maneuver the pilot, who was not certificated, performed what looked like a wingover. The aircraft was at about 1,000 feet above ground level when the wing folded and the aircraft spiraled down, impacting the ground. A postcrash examination of the aircraft at the accident scene showed that the carriage wing attachment hang point was broken. The fracture was consistent with a failure prior to impact. No other anomalies with the aircraft were found. The aircraft’s operating instructions stated that all aerobatic maneuvers including spinning are prohibited. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 23, 2010, about 1145 mountain daylight time, an Airborne Windsport Edge weight-shift aircraft, N55857, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain while performing aerobatic maneuvers near Fort Lupton, Colorado. The pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 local flight. The pilot departed a private airstrip at an unknown time. An eyewitness reported that he observed the weight-shift aircraft performing “loops and wingovers” for about five minutes. The eyewitness continued that during the last maneuver the pilot performed what looked like a wingover; however, the wing folded, approximately 1,000 feet above ground level, and the aircraft spiraled down and impacted terrain. PERSONNEL INFORMATION A review of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) database failed to show that the 86 year old pilot possessed a pilot certificate. Additionally, no FAA medical records on the pilot were found. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The aircraft was a 2000 Airborne Windsport Edge, serial number 582-560. It was registered as an experimental, weight-shift aircraft. The aircraft was powered by a Rotax 582 two-stroke engine, rated at 65 horsepower. Several requests were made of the pilot's family to provide pilot and aircraft records, however the family failed to reply to the requests. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION A postcrash examination of the aircraft at the accident scene showed that the carriage wing attachment hang point was broken. The fracture was consistent with a failure not caused by impact with the ground. No other anomalies with the aircraft were found. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy was conducted by the Weld County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner, in Greeley, Colorado, on June 24, 2010. The cause of death was attributed to multiple blunt force injuries. The FAA’s Civil Aeromedical Institute performed forensic toxicology on specimens from the pilot. The report stated that Amlodipine, Atenolol, and Triamterene were detected in liver and blood. Atenolol is a beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist or beta blocker used for treatment of hypertension and certain arrhythmias. Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker used to treat hypertension. Triamterene is a potassium sparing diuretic used to treat hypertension. The FAA Aviation Medical Examiner’s Guide states that medications acceptable to the FAA for treatment of hypertension in airmen include all Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved diuretics, alpha-adrenergic blocking agents, beta-adrenergic blocking agents, calcium channel blocking agents, angiotension converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and direct vasodilators. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The aircraft's operating instructions state that all aerobatic “manoervres” (maneuvers) including spinning is prohibited. Flight loadfactor limits for the aircraft show the maximum positive maneuvering load factor is 4.0 G. Load factors below 1.0 G are “to be avoided”, and negative load factors are prohibited. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N55857](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55857-2017-07-07), registration cancelled 2017-07-07, S/N 582-560, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIRBORNE WINDSPORT EDGE - Registry model: [Airborne WINDSPORT EDGE](https://openairdocs.org/model/airborne-windsport-edge) (registry code 05903ZM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: 582-560 - Engines: ROTAX 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Wenzel Jonathon - Registered owner: Wenzel Jonathon - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: Ft. Lupton, CO - Destination: Ft. Lupton, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 86; injuries: fatal; seat: front; toxicology performed ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20100623036299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100623036299A), Jun 23, 2010: Airborne WINDSPORT E, Fort Lupton, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Eyewitness states aircraft performing aerobatic maneuvers, wing folded and spiraled to the ground. Preliminary inspection of aircaft found damage to the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 4, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76415. 753 KB in all. - Record of Conversation (item 1, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367383&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 128 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367355&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 3, .PDF, 281 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367358&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Operational Limits Extract from Edge Aircraft Operating Instructions (item 4, .PDF, 289 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367356&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Operational%20Limits%20Extract%20from%20Edge%20Aircraft%20Operating%20Instructions-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.