# NTSB GAA18CA054: Quicksilver MXL Sport, N7712, Point Mugu, CA, November 19, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 19, 2017, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Point Mugu, CA - Coordinates: 34.095554, -119.075279 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0956&lon=-119.0753&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 21, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96359 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96359/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96359 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA054 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to see and avoid power wires. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Quicksilver MXL SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=05903F3), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Quicksilver MXL SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=05903F3), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Quicksilver MXL SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=05903F3), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Quicksilver MXL SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=05903F3), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while following a friend performing an instructional flight, the other aircraft motioned to indicate that the student pilot had taken the flight controls, so he "broke away to the right." He added that he began a descent in an area of known power wires and "in [his] mind's eye, [he] had already [passed] the second of 2 sets" of power wires. He added that the airplane struck the power wires "at eye level" and then impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, while following a friend performing an instructional flight, the other aircraft motioned to indicate that the student pilot had taken the flight controls, so he "broke away to the right". He added that he began a descent in an area of known power wires and "in [his] mind's eye, [he] had already [passed] the second of 2 sets" of power wires. He added that the airplane struck the power wires "at eye level" and then impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7712](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7712), registered now, S/N 4606220, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: QUICKSILVER MXL SPORT (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Quicksilver MXL SPORT](https://openairdocs.org/model/quicksilver-mxl-sport) (registry code 05903JM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-series) (registry code 55564, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4606220 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 672 - Engines: ROTAX 503 54 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 16, 2017 - Departed: CMA, CAMARILLO, CA - Destination: CMA, CAMARILLO, CA - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review January 28, 2017; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 651 total, 71 in this make and model, 651 as pilot in command, 0.8 in the last 90 days, 0.4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KNTD, 2 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 20171119019449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171119019449A), Nov 19, 2017: Quicksilver MXL SPORT, Camarillo, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot stated he descended and flew over electrical power lines and thought this was the second set. The pilot stated he was looking back at the road and came… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 10, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96359. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459339&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459340&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.