# NTSB ERA18LA188: Northwing 17, N959RR, Section, AL, July 9, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 9, 2018, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Section, AL - Coordinates: 34.52222, -85.986389 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5222&lon=-85.9864&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 97729 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA18LA188 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97729/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97729 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA188 ## Probable cause The noncertificated pilot's failure to maintain control of the weight-shift-control aircraft during an aborted landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of flight experience in the aircraft. ## 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: [North Wing 17M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05902XT), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [North Wing 17M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=05902XT), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [North Wing 17M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=05902XT), [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. - [Landing-landing roll: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [North Wing 17M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05902XT), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [North Wing 17M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=05902XT), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [North Wing 17M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05902XT), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The noncertificated pilot had purchased the experimental light sport weight-shift-control trike about 1 month before the accident and had not flown it. The day before the accident, the pilot mowed a runway into the tall grass behind his home. On the day of the accident, the pilot asked his wife if she wanted to watch him taxi the aircraft; she did not realize he was going to fly it. He taxied back and forth a few times on runway, then initiated a takeoff. About 10 minutes later, the pilot returned to the runway for landing. The aircraft abruptly touched down, then bounced back into the air. Remaining airborne, it turned to the right and the right wing impacted the top of a tree before the aircraft subsequently impacted the ground. Examination of the aircraft revealed no mechanical discrepancies that would have precluded normal operation at that time of the accident. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with a loss of control during an aborted landing. ## Factual narrative On July 9, 2018, about 1845 central daylight time, an experimental light sport Northwing 17-M weight-shift-control trike, N959RR, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Section, Alabama. The noncertificated pilot was fatally injured. The aircraft was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.The pilot's wife reported that the pilot purchased the aircraft about 1 month before the accident. The pilot told her that he had owned a similar aircraft about 25 years prior. She was unable to provide any additional details about the pilot's ownership history or flight experience but stated that he had flown it at least once with the previous owner and was planning to take flight lessons in the future from a local pilot. The accident flight was the first time he had operated the aircraft after purchasing it. On the day before the accident, the pilot asked his neighbor if he could mow a grass runway into the property behind the residences and subsequently mowed a 45-ft by 650-ft strip in an east/west direction. On the day of the accident, the pilot asked his wife if she wanted to watch him taxi the aircraft; she did not realize he was going to fly it. At 1830, she saw him taxi back and forth a few times on the runway, then he taxied to the west end of the runway, turned toward the east, increased engine power, and took off. There were no apparent anomalies with the aircraft during takeoff. The pilot climbed the aircraft on a southeasterly heading before flying around the house five or six times. About 10 minutes later, the pilot returned for landing to the west. She saw the aircraft on final approach and stated that it approached at a slight angle to the runway, then abruptly touched down and bounced. The aircraft appeared to skip along the runway without settling down and never stayed on the ground. After the aircraft "jumped up," it remained airborne, turned to the right, and the right wing passed through the top of a large tree, slicing through several branches, before the aircraft turned further right then dove into the ground. The pilot did not hold a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman or medical certificate, and whether he had previous flight training or experience could not be determined. An FAA inspector conducted a postaccident examination of the trike, which revealed that the fuselage and wings were damaged during impact, and the seats were dislodged. There were ground scars immediately adjacent to the wreckage and tree branches spread nearby. The tubular frame was bent in several locations. The tension cables were connected, and the control bar remained connected and appeared functional. Fuel was found in the fuel lines and the fuel filter was clear and free of debris. The engine appeared clean and relatively intact. The canopy/wing was torn, and several ribs and tubular frame members were bent. All three propeller blades were delaminated and splintered; two blades remainedattached to the hub and one blade section was discovered about 30 ft from the wreckage. Tall grass, about 9 to 12 inches in length, was wrapped around the landing gear wheels. There were landing gear tire marks leading off the southeast end of the runway for about 50 ft into the grass from the previous takeoff. Upon request by the Alabama Department of Forensic Science, the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Forensic Sciences performed the autopsy on the pilot. The cause of death was blunt force trauma of the chest. The FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory performed toxicological testing of the pilot. The specimens from the pilot detected no medications, illicit drugs, ethanol, or products of combustion that could pose hazards to flight safety. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N959RR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N959RR-2019-07-15), registration cancelled 2019-07-15, S/N 39713, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTHWING 17 (M) - Registry model: [North Wing 17M](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-wing-17m) (registry code 05902XT) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-series) (registry code 55564, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: 39713 - Year built: 2005 - Engines: Rotax 503 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Departed: Section, AL - Destination: Section, AL - Airport: runway 14, 650 × 45 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: fatal; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: 4A6, 11 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 20180709009469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180709009469A), Jul 9, 2018: North Wing 17M, Section, AL, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. The pilot purchased the aircraft on 05/04/2018. The pilot asked his spouse to watch him taxi across the homebuilt grass strip runway in the back yard. The… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 25, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97729. 1.6 MB in all. - Record of Conversdation- Eyewitness (item 1, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481573&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversdation-%20Eyewitness-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation-FAA (item 2, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481574&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-FAA-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record-Previous Owner (item 3, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481575&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Previous%20Owner-Master.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 4, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481576&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Master.PDF - Weather (item 5, .PDF, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481577&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather-Master.PDF - Photo Array- Accident Site and Damage (item 6, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481578&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-%20Accident%20Site%20and%20Damage-Master.PDF - Overhead view of Runway and Accident Location (item 7, .PDF, 116 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481579&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Overhead%20view%20of%20Runway%20and%20Accident%20Location-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.