# NTSB ERA23LA243: Thompson Edward LM-5X-W, N970CE, Limington, ME, May 25, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 25, 2023, 07:00 local (11:00 UTC)
- Place: Limington, ME
- Coordinates: 43.762949, -70.67223 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7629&lon=-70.6722&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- 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): 192234
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA243
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192234/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192234
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA243

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate compensation for the gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in a collision with a tree during landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Thompson Edward LM-5X-W, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=056352R), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Thompson Edward LM-5X-W, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056352R), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Thompson Edward LM-5X-W, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=056352R), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Thompson Edward LM-5X-W, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=056352R), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that despite the winds being calm at the surface, shortly after departing for the accident flight he encountered gusty wind above the trees near the airport. He continued around the traffic pattern and planned to land in an area of grass next to the paved runway. During the final approach to land, a sudden gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right of the runway toward trees and a hangar. The pilot described that there was not enough time to initiate a go around before the airplane contacted a tree and then the hangar. The airplane came to rest upside down on the ground and the fuselage and both wings were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N970CE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N970CE-2023-11-29), registration cancelled 2023-11-29, S/N 1001, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: THOMPSON EDWARD LM-5X-W
- Registry model: [Thompson Edward LM-5X-W](https://openairdocs.org/model/thompson-edward-lm-5x-w) (registry code 056352R) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Volkswagen 2276CC](https://openairdocs.org/engine/volkswagen-2276cc) (registry code 63509, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1001
- Year built: 2019
- Airframe hours: 10
- Engines: Valley Engineering VW 2276 80 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, October 31, 2022
- Airport: 63B, Limington-Harmon, runway 29, 2,000 × 50 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 76; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 28, 2022; flight hours: 982 total, 10 in this make and model, 945 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 4 knots
- Temperature: 53 °F
- Observed at: PWM, 17 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 20230525008629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230525008629A), May 25, 2023: Thompson Edward LM-5X-W, Limington, ME, Substantial damage. Pilot in command (PIC) statement indicates PIC departed 63B on the grass beside runway 29. Winds were calm at the surface. PIC encountered gusty winds once…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192234. 76.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 75.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15712274&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 488 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15712211&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.

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