# NTSB ERA12CA054: Aeros Trike, N6111F, Amherst, VA, October 30, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 30, 2011, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Amherst, VA - Coordinates: 37.606945, -79.017776 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6069&lon=-79.0178&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 6, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82208 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82208/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82208 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA054 ## Probable cause The student pilot's inadequate aircraft control and improper airspeed while maneuvering to land, which resulted in a stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in the make and model of the accident aircraft. ## 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: [Aeros TRIKE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05903AD), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeros TRIKE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05903AD), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeros TRIKE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=05903AD), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/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); cases with it: [Aeros TRIKE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05903AD), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeros TRIKE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05903AD), [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: [Aeros TRIKE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05903AD), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was conducting his first solo flight in the experimental light sport, weight-shift control aircraft. He reported that he lost control of the aircraft during the initial climb after takeoff. According to a witness and the pilot's flight instructor, the pilot stalled the aircraft several times while maneuvering around the traffic pattern. During a right turn onto the final leg of the traffic pattern, the aircraft entered a steep descent and impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot stated that there were no preexisting mechanical anomalies with the aircraft. He reported 16 hours of total flight experience, which included 1 hour in the same make and model as the accident aircraft. ## Factual narrative The student pilot was conducting his first solo flight in the experimental light-sport, weight-shift control aircraft. The student pilot reported that he lost control of the airplane during the initial climb after takeoff. According to a witness and the pilot's flight instructor, the pilot stalled the airplane several times while maneuvering around the traffic pattern. During a right turn onto the final leg of the traffic pattern, the airplane entered a steep descent and impacted the ground which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot stated there were no preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane. He reported 16 hours of total flight experience, which included 1 hour in the same make and model as the accident aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6111F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6111F-2013-05-30), registration cancelled 2013-05-30, S/N A3POC-2, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AEROS LTD TRIKE - Registry model: [Aeros TRIKE](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeros-trike) (registry code 05903AD) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: A3POC-2 - Airframe hours: 323 - Engines: ROTAX 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 14, 2011 - Departed: N/A, Amhurst, VA - Destination: N/A, Amhurst, VA - Airport: N/A, Buffalo Ridge Airsports, runway 16, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; flight hours: 16 total, 1 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.35 inHg - Observed at: LYH, 14 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 20111030024649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111030024649A), Oct 30, 2011: Aeros Ltd TRIKE, Amherst, VA, Substantial damage. On October 30, 2011, at approximately 18:25, [privacy data omitted] took off from buffalo ridge airsports airfield for his first solo flight in his Aeros… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 21, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82208. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot Interview Summary (item 1, .PDF, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358832&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 374 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358833&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 16 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358836&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - LYH Weather Observations (item 4, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358834&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=LYH%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - Photo 1: View of Airplane at Rest (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 777 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358835&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20Airplane%20at%20Rest%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.