# NTSB ERA22LA062: Maxair Drifter, Sebring, FL, November 13, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 13, 2021, 11:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: Sebring, FL - Coordinates: 27.446779, -81.357285 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4468&lon=-81.3573&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/ FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104253 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104253/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104253 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA062 ## Probable cause The non-certificated pilot’s decision to operate the airplane without flight training or a pilot certificate and his loss of control shortly after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at low altitude and collision with terrain. ## 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: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) - [Training: initial instruct/training](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031515): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031515/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The non-certificated pilot reported that as, he maneuvered the airplane to land in an open field, his flight path was nearing people and a building, so he added power, however too much power was added. This resulted in the nose of the airplane pitching up rapidly, which was followed by an aerodynamic stall and a nose low impact in the field. The airplane’s tail boom, fuselage, and wings sustained substantial damage. A video taken from the ground captured nearly the entire accident flight. Its contents largely corroborate the pilot’s account of what happened. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. He further reported that the accident flight was only his second flight in the airplane and he had not received any flight training to fly this airplane prior to flight. He believed the airplane was an “ultralight”, however, due to the fuel tanks size and number of seats, it did not meet the criteria stated in Code of Federal Regulations Part 103. ## Aircraft - Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: MAXAIR DRIFTER (NO SERIES) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: NONE - Airframe hours: 6 - Engines: ROTAX 912ULS 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: None - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: SEF, Sebring Rgnl - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: serious; seat: front; flight hours: 2 total, 2 in this make and model, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: SEF, 1 nm away - METAR: KSEF 131555Z AUTO 21008KT 10SM CLR 26/20 A3002 RMK AO2 T02590200 ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 20, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104253. 44.2 MB in all. - Record of conversation (pilot) (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 171 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13283109&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot)-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13283544&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Memo for record (6120.1 form not provided) (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 138 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13284271&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Memo%20for%20Record%20(6120.1%20Form%20Not%20Provided)-Rel.pdf - Video of accident flight (item 4, MOV, 40.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13872750&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=Video%20of%20Accident%20Flight-Rel.MOV 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.