- Date
- October 14, 2011, 19:15 local (Oct 15, 2011, 00:15 UTC)
- Place
- Okmulgee, OK
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- UNREGSaber Trike unk
- Defining event
- Enroute: Unknown or undetermined
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 28, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- Case key
- 82217
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 in-flight collision with electrical wires for undetermined reasons.
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
A non-certificated pilot was flying a weight-shift control airplane, and he reported that he had developed “mechanical problems” and was going to fly under a set of electrical wires to land in a vacant lot; the airplane impacted the wires and terrain. The pilot added that, prior to the accident flight, he had landed due to a fuel problem, repaired the problem, and departed. The pilot died about two weeks after the accident, in a manner unrelated to the accident. Circumstances surrounding the pilot’s death precluded a detailed examination of the airplane and engine.
Factual narrative
On October 14, 2011, about 1915 central daylight time, an unregistered Sabre weight-shift, “Trike” aircraft, impacted terrain following an in-flight collision with electrical wires near Okmulgee, Oklahoma. The non-certificated pilot received serious injuries and the passenger received minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged during the accident. The aircraft was owned and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a visual flight rules flight plan. According to the responding department of public safety trooper, the pilot reported that he had a previous fuel problem. The pilot added that he landed and repaired the problem and departed. Again the pilot added, that he “experienced mechanical problems” and elected to land underneath a set of electrical wires, in order to land in a vacant lot. During the landing, the aircraft impacted the electrical wires and subsequently impacted terrain. A small post-impact fire was quickly extinguished. Electrical burn marks were found on the aircraft mast and hand controls. In addition the mast and wing spar were broken during the accident. The pilot was released from the hospital shortly after the accident; however, the pilot died about 2 weeks after the accident. The medical examiner did not find evidence linking the aircraft accident to the pilot’s subsequent death. Circumstances surrounding the pilot’s death precluded a detailed examination of the aircraft and engine.
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- Saber Trike unk
- Category
- Weight-shift
- Engine
- Rotax, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Unknown
- Departed
- Okmulgee, OK
- Destination
- Okmulgee, OK
- Flight plan
- Unknown
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 54
- Injuries
- Serious
- Flight hours
- 9,999 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 46 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.94 inHg
- Observed at
- KOKM, 11 nm away
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 19, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 6.9 MB in all.