CEN11LA332

NTSB accident investigation · Unregistered Quicksilver MXL II · Crookston, MN · May 8, 2011

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
May 7, 2011, 20:45 local (May 8, 2011, 01:45 UTC)
Place
Crookston, MN
Injuries
1 serious
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
UNREGUnregistered Quicksilver MXL II
Defining event
Maneuvering: Aerodynamic stall/spin
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 6, 2012
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration - Minneapolis FSDO
Case key
79085

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot’s improper airspeed while maneuvering to land, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin at a low altitude.

Findings · 2

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.

Performance/control parameters: airspeedAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedAll aircraft: 1,681 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause

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 pilot stated that, after completing a low pass over his private airstrip, he decided to land. He reduced engine power to idle and entered a right turn toward the airstrip. The pilot stated that, while in the turn, he did not reduce pitch to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin at low altitude. The airplane collided with terrain in a nose down and right wing low attitude. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

Factual narrative

On May 7, 2011, at 2045 central daylight time, an unregistered Quicksilver model MXL II light sport airplane, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain, near Crookston, Minnesota. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated by the commercial pilot, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operated without a flight plan. The personal flight originated from the pilot's private airstrip near Crookston, Minnesota, at an unconfirmed time. The pilot stated that after completing a low pass over his private airstrip he decided to land. He reduced engine power to idle and entered a right turn back toward the airstrip. The pilot stated that while in the turn he did not reduce pitch to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin at low altitude. The airplane subsequently collided with terrain in a nose down and right wing low attitude. The fuselage and both wings were substantially damaged during the accident. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

Aircraft

Registration
UNREG
Reported as
Unregistered Quicksilver MXL II
Category
Airplane
Serial number
NONE
Engine
Rotax 503, 50 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Todd Alan Tollefson
Registered owner
Todd Alan Tollefson
Airworthiness certificate
Unknown
Departed
PVT · Crookston, MN
Destination
PVT · Crookston, MN
Airport
PVT · Private Airstrip

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
52
Injuries
Serious
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
April 27, 2010
Seat
Left
Flight hours
937 total · 15 in this make and model · 863 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
180° at 4 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
63 °F, dew point 45 °F
Altimeter
29.78 inHg
Observed at
KCKN, 16 nm away

Docket · 4

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 14, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 491 KB in all.