- Date
- November 7, 2008, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place
- Knoxville, PA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- UNREGQuicksilver II Mxlii
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 22, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Case key
- 69418
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 reason for this occurrence was undetermined.
Findings · 1
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
The owner of the experimental Quicksilver MXL II purchased the airplane from a previous private owner. The present owner assembled the airplane independently. The pilot agreed to test fly the airplane for the owner, and the accident flight was the first flight since assembly. After a satisfactory preflight inspection, the pilot took off and climbed to about 60 or 70 feet. He then applied left rudder and left “stick” to initiate a left turn. When he attempted to roll out of the turn, the airplane did not respond, and the left bank continued to increase. The pilot applied right spoiler, and shifted his weight by leaning-over into the right seat. The airplane impacted the ground in a nose low, left bank, resulting in substantial damage. Winds were reported light and variable in the area at the time of the accident. Examination of the wreckage was inconclusive.
Factual narrative
The owner of the experimental Quicksilver MXL II purchased the airplane from a previous private owner. The present owner assembled the airplane independently. The pilot agreed to test fly the airplane for the owner, and the accident flight was the first flight since assembly. After a satisfactory preflight inspection, the pilot took off and climbed to about 60 or 70 feet. He then applied left rudder and left “stick” to initiate a left turn. When he attempted to roll out of the turn, the airplane did not respond, and the left bank continued to increase. The pilot applied right spoiler, and shifted his weight by leaning-over into the right seat. The airplane impacted the ground in a nose low, left bank, resulting in substantial damage. Winds were reported light and variable in the area at the time of the accident. Examination of the wreckage was inconclusive.
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- Quicksilver II Mxlii (Sport)
- Category
- Ultralight, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 1051
- Engine
- Rotax 503, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Departed
- 6PS3 · Champ Field Air, PA
- Destination
- 6PS3 · Champ Field Air, PA
- Airport
- 6PS3 · Champ Field Airport, runway 27, 1,600 × 100 ft, grass/turf
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 14, 2007
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 800 total · 1 in this make and model · 10 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,200 ft broken
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.89 inHg
- Observed at
- ELM, 26 nm away