# NTSB ERA13CA130: Dratbe Shmiel Amir Classic Edge X, N662DA, Miami, FL, February 9, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 9, 2013, 10:20 local (15:20 UTC) - Place: Miami, FL - Coordinates: 25.756944, -80.556388 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.7569&lon=-80.5564&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report July 18, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86173 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA130 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86173/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86173 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA130 ## Probable cause The student pilot's decision to fly at low altitude surrounded by tree, wire, and water hazards, and his failure to maintain clearance from those obstacles. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dratbe Shmiel Amir CLASSIC EDGE X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05904RR), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Dratbe Shmiel Amir CLASSIC EDGE X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=05904RR), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Dratbe Shmiel Amir CLASSIC EDGE X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=05904RR), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Dratbe Shmiel Amir CLASSIC EDGE X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05904RR), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot/owner reported that he was flying eastbound with a passenger and was following two dirt roads, a set of power lines, and a canal that were all oriented east-west and parallel to one another. As the airplane flew along the canal, a "downdraft" or "rotor" caused a sudden loss of altitude, which placed the airplane directly in the flightpath of an intersecting (north/south) set of power lines that crossed the canal. The pilot attempted to fly under the power lines to avoid them but struck a tree on the canal's bank. The airplane then impacted the water and submerged, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. Witnesses reported observing the airplane flying just above the canal, below the height of the parallel lines, when it descended further, struck the tree, then the water. The student pilot/owner reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The student pilot/owner reported that he was flying eastbound with a passenger along two dirt roads, a set of power lines, and a canal that were all oriented east-west and parallel to one another. As the airplane flew along the canal, a "downdraft" or "rotor" caused a sudden loss of altitude which placed an intersecting (north/south) set of power lines, which crossed the canal, directly in its flight path. The pilot attempted to fly under the power lines to avoid them, but struck a tree on the canal's bank, and the airplane then impacted the water and submerged, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. Witnesses reported to the FAA that the airplane was flying just above the canal, below the height of the parallel lines, when it descended further, struck the tree, and the water. The student/pilot owner stated that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane that would have prevented normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N662DA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N662DA-2017-09-26), registration cancelled 2017-09-26, S/N 582-563, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DRATBE SHMIEL AMIR CLASSIC EDGE X - Registry model: [Dratbe Shmiel Amir CLASSIC EDGE X](https://openairdocs.org/model/dratbe-shmiel-amir-classic-edge-x) (registry code 05904RR) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: 582-563 - Airframe hours: 507 - Engines: ROTAX 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mijares John A - Registered owner: Mijares John A - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Departed: X51, Homestead, FL - Destination: Miami, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 50 total, 30 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: HST, 5 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 20130209001029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130209001029A), Feb 9, 2013: Dratbe Shmiel Amir CLASSIC EDGE X, Cooperstown, FL, Substantial damage. A pilot (of about 2YRS) was piloting an ultralight aircraft out of homestead general airport on a sightseeing personal flight to the everglades along with one… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 14, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86173. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388992&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot and Passenger Statement (item 2, .PDF, 337 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388993&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20and%20Passenger%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388994&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: View of damaged aircraft (FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 319 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389065&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20damaged%20aircraft%20(FAA)-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.