# NTSB CEN23LA422: Quicksilver Sport II, N728NN, Welsh, LA, September 26, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 26, 2023, 14:09 UTC
- Place: Welsh, LA
- Coordinates: 30.186547, -92.834208
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1865&lon=-92.8342&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193147
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA422
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193147/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193147
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA422

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient altitude from obstacles during the simulated landing approach which led to a collision with a fence and a building.

## Findings

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

- [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Quicksilver SPORT II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=05901D6), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Quicksilver SPORT II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=05901D6), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Quicksilver SPORT II, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05901D6), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was making a simulated landing approach to determine clearance requirements for a runway he was planning to put on his property. He said that during the approach, there was a slight tailwind, and he flew about 6 to 7 ft. above the ground during the approach. There was a fence that crossed the approach path. The pilot surmised that as he approached the fence and added power the airplane settled and the tail skid caught the top wire of the electric fence, which altered the airplane’s trajectory. The airplane struck a building on the property and then the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that the airplane had no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N728NN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N728NN), registered now, S/N 548, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: QUICKSILVER SPORT II
- Registry model: [Quicksilver SPORT II](https://openairdocs.org/model/quicksilver-sport-ii) (registry code 05901D6) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 503 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-series) (registry code 55564, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 548
- Year built: 1989
- Airframe hours: 342
- Engines: Rotax 582 64 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, September 25, 2022
- Departed: 3R7, Jennings, LA
- Airport: none
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 5, 2021; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 10,225 total, 35 in this make and model, 10,225 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: KCWF, 16 nm away
- METAR: KCWF 261345Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 25/23 A3004

## 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 20230926010929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230926010929A), Sep 26, 2023: Quicksilver SPORT II, Welsh, LA, Substantial damage. Pilot was making approach to his property. He got too close to a fence on the property line and advanced the throttle. Engine did not respond as fast as he…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193147. 1.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16440888&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 494 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16443137&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.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.