# NTSB CEN24LA332: Apex CROSS-5X, N223CL, Columbus, NE, September 2, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 2, 2024, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Columbus, NE · Rural Residential Area - Coordinates: 41.159, -97.6385 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1590&lon=-97.6385&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report September 18, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 195042 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA332 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195042/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195042 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA332 ## Probable cause The non-certificated pilot’s failure to maintain control of the aircraft after takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Apex APEX CROSS-5X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05901ZK), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Apex APEX CROSS-5X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=05901ZK), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Apex APEX CROSS-5X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05901ZK), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Impairment/incapacitation: illicit drug](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012020): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot; cases with it: [Apex APEX CROSS-5X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012020/cases.md?model=05901ZK), [All aircraft, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Apex APEX CROSS-5X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05901ZK), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The non-certificated pilot departed from a private grass airstrip on his second flight in the weight-shift-control aircraft. According to a witness, the aircraft departed and flew low to the ground. There were no witnesses to the impact with the roof of the garage near the airstrip. The aircraft came to rest inverted and partially imbedded in the roof of the garage. Postaccident examination of the aircraft revealed signatures consistent with impact damage. All three propeller blades separated about midspan consistent with rotation at the time of impact. There were no mechanical anomalies with the aircraft, engine, or related systems that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot did not have any flight training or flight experience other than the accident flight and the one before it. It was unlawful for the pilot to perform a solo flight in the aircraft. Postmortem toxicological testing identified potentially impairing drugs. As the non-certificated pilot was operating the aircraft outside the guardrails of federal regulations, detailed evaluation of the toxicological results was not within the scope of this investigation. ## Factual narrative On September 2, 2024, about 1215 central standard time, an Apex Cross-5X weight-shift-control aircraft, N223CL, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Columbus, Nebraska. The non-certificated pilot sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Two witnesses spoke with the pilot just before the accident flight and provided permission for the aircraft to depart from their airstrip. The pilot told these witnesses that he had just purchased the aircraft and had no previous experience flying any aircraft. One witness saw the aircraft take off from the private airfield and fly low to the ground; the aircraft did not climb. Another witness, who was flying a similar aircraft at the time, took off ahead of the accident aircraft and watched as the aircraft descended and did not climb back up. None of the witnesses observed the impact. The aircraft impacted the roof of a garage in a residential neighborhood, adjacent to where the aircraft took off. The aircraft came to rest inverted, partially penetrating the roof. The wing/sail of the aircraft was impact separated and came to rest on the ground adjacent to the garage. Fuel was observed leaking from the fuel tank. The aircraft was recovered from the roof and relocated to a facility for further examination. All fasteners and control cables remained attached and routed as designed. The wing, fuselage, and flight controls were impact-damaged. The propeller remained attached to the engine and all 3 propeller blades were impact damaged about midspan. There were no mechanical anomalies with the airframe, engine, or related systems that would have precluded normal operation. According to FAA records, the pilot did not hold any pilot certificates or ratings. According to the pilot’s family, he did not have any previous flight training or experience. His spouse reported that he had flown the aircraft on one previous occasion but never climbed above 10 ft above the ground during that flight. The pilot had just purchased the weight-shift-control aircraft several days before the accident and spent several days reassembling it. The maintenance records did not document the completion of a condition inspection. An autopsy of the pilot was performed by Physicians Laboratory Services, as authorized by the Platte County Attorney. According to the autopsy report, the cause of death was blunt force injuries. The FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory toxicology report is in the docket for this investigation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N223CL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N223CL), registered now, S/N 02-02 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: APEX CROSS-5X - Registry model: [Apex APEX CROSS-5X](https://openairdocs.org/model/apex-apex-cross-5x) (registry code 05901ZK) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Compact Ra MZ202](https://openairdocs.org/engine/compact-ra-mz202) (registry code 14700, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: 02-02 - Year built: 2007 - Engines: Compact RA MZ202 60 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: NA - Equipment: Airframe parachute ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: fatal; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; toxicology performed; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.32 inHg - Observed at: KOLU, 22 nm away - METAR: KOLU 021656Z AUTO 16011KT 10SM CLR 22/11 A3032 RMK AO2 SLP265 T02170111 ## 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 20240902015209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240902015209A), Sep 2, 2024: Apex APEX CROSS-5X, Columbus, NE, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Witnesses reported aircraft departed from a private grass runway. Witnesses reported losing sight of the aircraft. Aircraft located after impacting garage on… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 18, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195042. 4.2 MB in all. - Sheriff's report excerpts (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20840899&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Sheriff%27s%20Report%20Excerpts-Rel.pdf - Examination summary statement from FAA (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20788288&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Examination%20Statement%20from%20FAA%20Inspectors%20-Rel.pdf - Family statement excerpt (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20840357&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Widow%20Statement%20Excerpt%20-Rel.pdf - Aircraft records (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20789030&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Aircraft%20Records-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 488 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20274369&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Toxicology_Redacted-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.