# NTSB CEN12CA423: Eipper Quicksilver, Manvel, ND, July 3, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 2, 2012, 19:45 local (Jul 3, 2012, 00:45 UTC)
- Place: Manvel, ND
- Coordinates: 48.129722, -97.293609 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1297&lon=-97.2936&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 4, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 84232
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA423
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84232/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84232
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA423

## Probable cause

The non-certificated pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a wheat field.

## Findings

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

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The non-certificated pilot said that he had been flying his unregistered aircraft too low over a wheat field. He stated that he encountered a "thermal" and that the aircraft’s nosewheel caught in the wheat, causing the airplane to nose over and impact the ground. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage structure. About 8 minutes after the accident occurred, the wind was reported as being from 320 degrees at 6 knots.

## Factual narrative

The non-certificated pilot said that he had been flying his unregistered aircraft too low over a wheat field. He encountered a "thermal" and his nose wheel "caught" in the wheat, causing the aircraft to nose over and impact terrain. There was substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage structure. The wind conditions about eight minutes after the of accident occurred were reported 320 degrees at 6 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: EIPPER QUICKSILVER (MX II)
- Category: Ultralight
- Serial number: UNKNOWN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Michael S. Callahan
- Registered owner: Michael S. Callahan
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Departed: NONE, MANVEL, ND
- Destination: NONE, MANVEL, ND
- Flight plan: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; injuries: serious; seat: left; flight hours: 50 total, 50 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.65 inHg
- Observed at: KGFK

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 26, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84232. 447 KB in all.

- FAA Inspector's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372916&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372917&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 - Ground path through wheat field (item 3, .PDF, 178 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372918&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Ground%20path%20through%20wheat%20field-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - Right side of inverted ultralight (item 4, .PDF, 202 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372919&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Right%20side%20of%20inverted%20ultralight-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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