- Date
- May 20, 2017, 17:30 local (May 21, 2017, 00:30 UTC)
- Place
- Casa Grande, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N168ATAirtime Cygnet
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 3, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA/ FSDO
- FAA report
- 20170520007649A
- Case key
- 95204
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The flight instructor's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in gusting crosswind conditions.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The flight instructor in the amphibious, float-equipped, weight-shift-controlled trike reported that he was demonstrating multiple touch-and-go landings for the student pilot, who was in the front seat of the tandem-seat trike. He added that, during the final approach, the wind was "light and variable," and the landing was "smooth and stable." He further added that, as power was applied to takeoff, a "gust of wind and dust came in from our left and got under the wing." Subsequently, the trike veered off the runway to the right and rolled over. The wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the trike that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station at the accident airport recorded that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 330° at 9 knots. The flight instructor reported the takeoff was from runway 5.
Factual narrative
The flight instructor in the amphibious float-equipped weight-shift controlled trike reported that, he was demonstrating multiple touch-and-go landings for the student pilot, who was in the front seat of the tandem seat trike. He added that during the final approach, wind was "light and variable" and the landing was "smooth and stable." He further added that as power was applied to takeoff, a "gust of wind and dust came in from our left and got under the wing." Subsequently, the trike veered off the runway to the right and rolled over. The wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the trike that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station, at the accident airport, about the time of the accident, recorded wind 330° at 9 knots. The flight instructor reported the takeoff was on runway 5.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N168AT
- Reported as
- Airtime Cygnet (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Weight-shift
- Serial number
- 00107
- Built
- 2016
- Airframe hours
- 35
- Engine
- Rotax 912, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Departed
- CGZ · Casa Grande, AZ
- Destination
- CGZ · Casa Grande, AZ
- Airport
- CGZ · Casa Grande Muni, runway 5, 5,200 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- None
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 31
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Commercial, Sport Pilot, Private, Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Rear
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 8,050 total · 50 in this make and model · 6,380 as pilot in command · 205 in the last 90 days · 49 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 53
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Sport pilot
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 10 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.79 inHg
- Observed at
- KCGZ
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 13, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.6 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.