- Date
- June 19, 2014, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Watertown, SD
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N4474PQuicksilver Enterprises MXL II Sport
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 24, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Flight Standards District Office
- FAA report
- 20140619010609A
- Case key
- 89530
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 uncertificated pilot's loss of control while maneuvering at low altitude.
Findings · 3
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
Witnesses stated the airplane made a steep turn at low altitude, followed by a rapid descent and ground impact. The uncertificated pilot was seriously injured and did not recall any of the accident sequence, due to head trauma. 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.
Factual narrative
Witnesses stated the airplane made a steep turn at low altitude, followed by a rapid descent and ground impact. The uncertificated pilot was seriously injured and did not recall any of the accident sequence, due to head trauma. 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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4474P
- Reported as
- Quicksilver Enterprises MXL II Sport (MXLII)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 304
- Engine
- Rotax 503 DCDI, 50 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Timothy G Kruse
- Registered owner
- Timothy G Kruse
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Departed
- PRI · Watertown, ND
- Destination
- Watertown, SD
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 44
- Injuries
- Serious
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 10 total · 2 in this make and model · 2 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.87 inHg
- Observed at
- KATY, 25 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 3, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 616 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.