# NTSB FTW84FU005: Eipper Quicksilver MXL, Huntington, TX, March 8, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: March 8, 1984, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Huntington, TX
- Coordinates: 31.269548, -94.569717 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.2695&lon=-94.5697&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21155
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW84FU005
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21155/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84FU005

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - initial climb
  - wing,spar - failure,total (cause)
  - wing,spar - overload (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT MADE SEVERAL TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS IN HIS NEWLY ACQUIRED ULTRA LIGHT VEHICLE. ON A SUBSQUENT FLT AT ABOUT 75 FT AGL, THE OUTBOARD PORTION OF THE LEFT WING FOLDED UPWARD ABOUT 90 DEGREES. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL INVERTED AND THE PLT USED FULL RUDDER AND POWER WHICH STOPPED THE ROLL, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL TURNED LEFT AND DESCENDED. THE PLT CUT THE POWER AT 15 FT AGL. THE VEHICLE HIT LEFT WING LOW, NOSE LOW AND BOUNCED ABOUT 30 FT BEFORE STOPPING. THE WING FAILURE WAS DETERMINED TO BE FROM OVERLOAD BY AN NTSB METALLURGIST. THERE WERE RUB MARKS ON THE LEFT WING TIP OF AN UNDETERMINEDNATURE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: EIPPER QUICKSILVER MXL (QUICKSILVE)
- Category: Ultralight
- Serial number: 1286
- Airframe hours: 3
- Engines: Rotax 377 30 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 103
- Registered owner: Daniel V. Wheeler
- Last inspection: Unknown, March 5, 1984, 3 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 27,750 total, 3 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LFK, 15 nm away

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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