# NTSB CEN12CA119: Quicksilver MXL II, N61202, Loreauville, LA, December 18, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 18, 2011, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Loreauville, LA
- Coordinates: 30.038888, -91.720832 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0389&lon=-91.7208&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 8, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Baton Rouge FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 82606
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA119
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82606/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82606
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA119

## Probable cause

The student pilot did not maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Quicksilver MXL II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=059003C), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Quicksilver MXL II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=059003C), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Quicksilver MXL II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=059003C), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Quicksilver MXL II, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=059003C), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot reported that the airplane’s airspeed was “pretty slow” and that he was flying about 200 feet above ground level when he entered a sudden steep left turn. He did not add power as he entered the turn and likely used too much aileron. During the turn, the airplane stalled, entered a spin, and impacted the ground in a steep nose-down attitude. The impact caused substantial damage to all structural components of the airplane. The student pilot said he had about 5 hours of experience in the accident airplane and had not received any flight instruction in this make and model airplane. The passenger was not a pilot. In addition, the student pilot stated that he thought the accident would not have occurred if he had maintained a higher airspeed and had been at a higher altitude.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot reported he was “pretty slow” and flying about 200 feet above ground level when he entered a sudden steep left turn. The student pilot did not add power as he entered the turn and said he probably used too much aileron. During the turn the airplane suddenly entered a spin and impacted the ground in a steep nose down attitude. The impact caused substantial damage to all structural components of the airplane. The student pilot said he had about five hours of experience in the accident airplane and had not received any flight instruction in that type. In addition the student pilot stated he thought the cause of the accident was pilot error and that he should have kept a higher airspeed and been at a higher altitude.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N61202](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61202-2013-08-29), registration cancelled 2013-08-29, S/N MXL II SPORT 000870, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: QUICKSILVER MXL II
- Registry model: [Quicksilver MXL II](https://openairdocs.org/model/quicksilver-mxl-ii) (registry code 059003C) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: MXL II SPORT 000870
- Airframe hours: 157
- Engines: ROTAX 582 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, August 31, 2007, 156 hours before
- Departed: Loreauville, LA
- Destination: Loreauville, LA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 29; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 30, 2011; seat: right; flight hours: 34 total, 5 in this make and model, 6 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 5 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observed at: KARA, 8 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20111218029899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111218029899A), Dec 18, 2011: Quicksilver MXL II, Loreauville, LA, Destroyed. Flying upwind and from approximately 200 ft AGL, [privacy data omitted] entered a steep left turn that resulted in a stall-spin. He stated he did not add…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 19, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82606. 1.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361007&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation With Student Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361054&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20With%20Student%20Pilot-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.

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