# NTSB CEN12LA047: Saber Trike unk, Okmulgee, OK, October 15, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 14, 2011, 19:15 local (Oct 15, 2011, 00:15 UTC) - Place: Okmulgee, OK - Coordinates: 35.630847, -95.949508 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6308&lon=-95.9495&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 28, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82217 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA047 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82217/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82217 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA047 ## Probable cause The in-flight collision with electrical wires for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Landing: 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 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 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Saber Trike unk - Category: Weight-shift - Engines: 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. - 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 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 19, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82217. 6.9 MB in all. - Maps or Charts of Accident Area, Wreckage Diagrams (item 1, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361301&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maps%20or%20Charts%20of%20Accident%20Area,%20Wreckage%20Diagrams-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361302&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Reports from State Agencies (item 3, .PDF, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361303&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20State%20Agencies-Redacted.PDF - Photo: Accident aircraft (FAA photo) (item 4, .PDF, 6.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361305&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20Accident%20aircraft%20%20%20(FAA%20photo)-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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.