# NTSB ERA09LA013: Sabre Tukan, N75604, Mohawk, TN, October 12, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 12, 2008, 08:06 local (12:06 UTC) - Place: Mohawk, TN - Coordinates: 36.173332, -83.163887 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1733&lon=-83.1639&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: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 69269 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA013 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69269/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=69269 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA013 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of control in flight due to a lack of flight experience or instruction. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment due to the recent use of marijuana and a prescription painkiller. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Experience/qualifications: total experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Sabre TUKAN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md?model=05904MT), [All aircraft, 126 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md) - [Impairment/incapacitation: illicit drug](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012020): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Sabre TUKAN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012020/cases.md?model=05904MT), [All aircraft, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Sabre TUKAN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05904MT), [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: [Sabre TUKAN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05904MT), [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: [Sabre TUKAN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05904MT), [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: [Sabre TUKAN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05904MT), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis Witnesses reported strong gusting wind from the east, but the pilot elected to take off to the west. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft dragged the left wing on the turf runway and nearly collided with a camper. The aircraft climbed between 100 and 150 feet above ground level, and made a “hard left turn” before it entered a nose-down descent and impacted terrain. Witnesses described the engine sound as “wide open” throughout the takeoff and accident sequence. A search of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)records revealed that the pilot held no pilot certificates, nor was there any record of his applying for an FAA medical certificate. A family member reported that the pilot elected to take his first flight in the aircraft solo and without prior instruction. Toxicology testing was consistent with impairment due to recent use of marijuana and a prescription painkiller. ## Factual narrative On October 12, 2008, at 0806 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Sabre Tukan weight-shift light sport aircraft, N75604, was substantially damaged following an uncontrolled descent after takeoff from Cooper Field (private), Mohawk, Tennessee. The non-certificated pilot/owner was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight that was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Local law enforcement responded to the scene, and interviewed several witnesses, as well as members of the pilot’s family. Witnesses reported there was a strong, gusting wind from the east, but the pilot elected to takeoff to the west. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft dragged the left wing on the turf runway, and nearly collided with a camper. The aircraft climbed between 100 and 150 feet above ground level, and made a “hard left turn” before it entered a nose-down descent and impacted terrain. Witnesses described the engine sound as “wide open” throughout the takeoff and accident sequence. According to the police officer-in-charge at the scene, an interview with the pilot’s wife revealed that the aircraft was a recent purchase by the pilot, and that he had arranged to meet a flight instructor at Cooper Field on the morning of the accident. The instructor never arrived, and the pilot elected to take his first flight in the aircraft solo, and without prior instruction. The pilot’s wife later confirmed these circumstances in a written statement. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the scene, a search of FAA records revealed that the pilot held no pilot certificates, and neither was there any record of his applying for an FAA medical certificate. According to FAA and maintenance records, the airplane was manufactured in 1999, and had accrued 350 total aircraft hours. The most recent conditional inspection was completed January 13, 2008, at 350 aircraft hours. At 1347, the weather reported at McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS), about 40 miles north of the site, included few clouds at 6,500 feet and winds from 040 degrees at 11 knots. The visibility was 10 miles. The temperature was 16 degrees Celsius and the dew point was 8 degrees Celsius. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Tennessee Department of Health, Johnson City, Tennessee performed an autopsy on the pilot. The autopsy report indicated that the pilot died as a result of "Blunt force injuries secondary to ultralight plane crash." The FAA’s Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed toxicological testing of the pilot. Fluid and tissue specimens from the pilot tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (Marijuana) and tramadol, a prescription pain killer. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N75604](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N75604-2015-04-27), registration cancelled 2015-04-27, S/N STII16M503-D, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Sabre Tukan - Registry model: [Sabre TUKAN](https://openairdocs.org/model/sabre-tukan) (registry code 05904MT) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-series) (registry code 55564, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: STII16M503-D - Airframe hours: 350 - Engines: 45 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Steve E. Moldon - Registered owner: Steve E. Moldon - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 13, 2008 - Departed: Mohawk, TN - Destination: Mohawk, TN - Airport: Cooper Field, runway 27, 3,000 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: fatal; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 0 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg - Observed at: TYS, 40 nm away ## 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 20081012848029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081012848029A), Oct 12, 2008: Sabre TUKAN, Greeneville, TN, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) The pilot of the powered glider started his takeoff roll to the west with a quartering crosswind from his right just after lift off at an altitude of… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 8, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=69269. 539 KB in all. - Accident Diagram (item 1, .PDF, 33 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40305273&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Diagram-Redacted.PDF - Interview Summaries (item 2, .PDF, 135 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318485&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summaries-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 3, .PDF, 172 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40305274&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Aircraft Bill of Sale (item 4, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40305275&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Bill%20of%20Sale-Redacted.PDF - Special Airworthiness Certificate (item 5, .PDF, 33 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40305276&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Special%20Airworthiness%20Certificate-Redacted.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 6, .PDF, 127 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317677&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Master.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.