# NTSB DFW08CA213: Aerotrike Spirit, N226MB, Vinland Valley, KS, August 15, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 15, 2008, 13:25 local (18:25 UTC) - Place: Vinland Valley, KS - Coordinates: 38.835834, -95.192779 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8358&lon=-95.1928&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Wichita, KS - NTSB case key (mKey): 68776 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08CA213 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68776/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA213 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's failure to maintain control of the sport aircraft on takeoff. ## 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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerotrike SPIRIT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05902DT), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Aerotrike SPIRIT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05902DT), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aerotrike SPIRIT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05902DT), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The certified flight instructor and student pilot had just departed in the flight instructor's experimental light sport (weight-shift) aircraft when it began to drift to the left of the runway centerline. The flight instructor, who was also on the controls with the student pilot, reported that there was a three mile per hour crosswind from the right, so they both moved the bar to the left to correct for the wind and positioned the aircraft back to the right and over the runway centerline. However, once the correction was made, the aircraft continued to drift to the right. The instructor stated that he was telling the student to move the control bar to the right, and the student said he was trying but he was unable to lift the wing. The instructor, who was still on the controls, said that he was also trying to lift the wing but to no avail and the aircraft continued to bank sharply to the right. When the airplane's bank angle reached approximately 45 degrees, the instructor realized that the aircraft was going to stall so he pushed the control bar forward. The aircraft hit the ground with the right wing and came to rest about 300 feet to the right of the runway in a plowed field. Examination of the airplane revealed the wing and frame sustained substantial damage. The propeller was also damaged. No pre mishap discrepancies were noted with the airframe or the engine. ## Factual narrative The certified flight instructor and student pilot had just departed in the flight instructor's experimental light sport (weight-shift) aircraft when the it began to drift to the left of the runway centerline. The flight instructor, who was also on the controls with the student pilot, reported that there was a three mile per hour crosswind from the right, so they both moved the bar to the left to correct for the wind and positioned the aircraft back to the right and over the runway centerline. However, once the correction was made, the aircraft continued to drift to the right. The instructor stated that he was telling the student to move the control bar to the right, and the student said he was trying but he was unable to lift the wing. The instructor, who was still on the controls, said that he was also trying to lift the wing but to no avail and the aircraft continued to bank sharply to the right. When the airplane's bank angle reached approximately 45 degrees, the instructor realized that the aircraft was going to stall so he pushed the control bar forward. The aircraft hit the ground with the right wing and came to rest about 300 feet to the right of the runway in a plowed field. Examination of the airplane revealed the wing and frame sustained substantial damage. The propeller was also damaged. No pre mishap discrepancies were noted with the airframe or the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N226MB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N226MB-2009-04-03), registration cancelled 2009-04-03, S/N 226, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aerotrike Spirit - Registry model: [Aerotrike SPIRIT](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerotrike-spirit) (registry code 05902DT) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503 DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-dcdi) (registry code 55566, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: 226 - Engines: Rotax UL503DCDI reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael E. Brock - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Departed: K64, Vinland Valley, KS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 47; sport pilot, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; flight hours: 287 total, 214 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 52; student; medical: sport pilot; flight hours: 14 total, 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20080815849709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080815849709A), Aug 15, 2008: Aerotr SPIRIT, Baldwin City, KS, Substantial damage. (-23) Immediately after takeoff, the student pilot adjusted for a minor crosswind by turning the aircraft to the right. The aircraft responded but did not… 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.