- 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.
On this page
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.
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.