# NTSB ERA09CA328: Trick Trikes Storm Thunder, N2598E, Raleigh, NC, June 8, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 8, 2009, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Raleigh, NC - Coordinates: 35.707221, -78.535278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7072&lon=-78.5353&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 9, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA Greensboro FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73981 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA328 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73981/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73981 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA328 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control on approach for landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Perception/orientation/illusion: geographic disorient (lost)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022030): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Trick Trikes STORM THUNDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022030/cases.md?model=05903PC), [All aircraft, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Trick Trikes STORM THUNDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05903PC), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Trick Trikes STORM THUNDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05903PC), [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. - [Approach: Engine shutdown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/140); cases with it: [Trick Trikes STORM THUNDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/140/sequence.md?model=05903PC), [All aircraft, 80 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/140/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Trick Trikes STORM THUNDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=05903PC), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot delayed his flight due to fog in the local area. After departing, he flew around the local area for about 1 hour and 30 minutes when the flight started to get bumpy due to thermals. He became a little disoriented, observed personnel next to their home, and circled the house several times. He decided to make an off-field landing so that he could get an address, call his wife, and recover the airplane. The pilot made an additional pass over the house, reversed course, and started an approach for landing. The pilot reported encountering an updraft about 30 to 40 feet above the ground. The nose of the airplane pitched up and the pilot secured the engine. He pushed the nose of the airplane down and the airplane then collided with the ground. The pilot stated there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. The homeowners at the accident site reported that the sky was clear, with no wind gusts and a gentle breeze. ## Factual narrative The pilot delayed his flight due to fog in the local area. After departing, he flew around the local area for about 1 hour and 30 minutes. It then started to get bumpy due to thermals. He became a little disoriented, observed personnel next to their home, and circled the house several times. He decided to make an off field landing so he could get an address, call his wife, and recover the airplane. The pilot made an additional pass over the house, reversed course, and started an approach for landing. The pilot reported encountering an updraft about 30 to 40 feet above the ground. The nose of the airplane pitched up and the pilot secured the engine. He pushed the nose of the airplane down and the airplane then collided with the ground. The pilot stated there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. The homeowners at the accident site reported the sky was clear, no wind gust, and a gentle breeze. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2598E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2598E-2017-07-14), registration cancelled 2017-07-14, S/N TTS 011, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TRICK TRIKES STORM THUNDER - Registry model: [Trick Trikes STORM THUNDER](https://openairdocs.org/model/trick-trikes-storm-thunder) (registry code 05903PC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: TTS 011 - Airframe hours: 30 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Hunt Leslie R - Registered owner: Hunt Leslie R - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 7, 2009, 2 hours before - Departed: Clayton, NC - Destination: Clayton, NC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: front; flight hours: 165 total, 25 in this make and model, 165 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: RDU ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 23, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73981. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314651&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314416&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Statements (item 3, .PDF, 213 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314423&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statements-Redacted.PDF - Weather Report (item 4, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314424&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF - Wake County Sheriff Report (item 5, .PDF, 396 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314524&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Wake%20County%20Sheriff%20Report-Redacted.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.