# NTSB CEN13LA493: Trick Trikes Storm Trooper, N5157G, Covert, MI, August 16, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 16, 2013, 12:35 local (16:35 UTC) - Place: Covert, MI - Coordinates: 42.298889, -86.328887 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2989&lon=-86.3289&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, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 23, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 87800 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA493 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87800/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87800 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA493 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s loss of control while maneuvering at low altitude over a congested beach area. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s ostentatious display. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Trick Trikes STORM TROOPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05901LD), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Trick Trikes STORM TROOPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05901LD), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Trick Trikes STORM TROOPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05901LD), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot made two low-altitude passes in a weight-shift airplane over a congested, coastline beach area. Following these two passes, the airplane entered into a steep, right bank turn at low altitude and impacted the beach. The final seconds of the flight were captured by witness video and photos, which indicated that the engine was operating normally and that the wing structure appeared normal. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On August 16, 2013, about 1235 eastern daylight time, a Trick Trikes Storm Trooper weight-shift aircraft, N5157G, impacted terrain while maneuvering near Covert, Michigan. The student pilot was seriously injured and the passenger received minor injuries. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which departed without a flight plan from an unknown location near Cassapolis, Michigan. According to witnesses, the aircraft made two low altitude passes over a congested, coastline beach area. Following these two passes, the aircraft made a turn and impacted the beach area in a steep right bank, damaging the structure of the wings, landing gear, and front section of the aircraft. The final seconds of the flight were captured by witness video and photos. Engine noise was present on the video and no anomalies with the wing structure were indicated in the photos. Examination of the airframe and engine by Federal Aviation Administration personnel revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Pilot and maintenance records were not available for the investigation. The pilot did not submit an NTSB Form 6120, despite repeated requests to do so. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5157G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5157G-2025-02-08), registration cancelled 2025-02-08, S/N TTS025, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TRICK TRIKES STORM TROOPER - Registry model: [Trick Trikes STORM TROOPER](https://openairdocs.org/model/trick-trikes-storm-trooper) (registry code 05901LD) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 618](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-618) (registry code 55578, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: TTS025 - Year built: 2005 - Engines: ROTAX 618 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Feathers Timothy S - Registered owner: Feathers Timothy S - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: Cassopolis, MI - Destination: Cassopolis, MI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 42; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KLWA, 5 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 20130816015789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130816015789A), Aug 16, 2013: Trick Trikes STORM TROOPER, Covert, MI, Substantial damage. On August 16, 2013, about 1235 eastern daylight time, a Trick Trikes Storm Trooper weight-shift aircraft, N5157G, impacted terrain while maneuvering near a… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 31, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87800. 5.8 MB in all. - Photo of aircraft at accident site (item 1, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407396&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20of%20aircraft%20at%20accident%20site-Master.PDF - Photo of aircraft prior to ground impact (item 2, .PDF, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407398&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20of%20aircraft%20prior%20to%20ground%20impact-Master.PDF - Excerpt of FAA report (item 3, .PDF, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407599&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20of%20FAA%20report-Master.PDF - Excerpt of police report-witness interviews (item 4, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407600&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20of%20police%20report-witness%20interviews-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.