# NTSB GAA18CA411: Eipper Quicksilver, N126AS, Marietta, SC, April 21, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 21, 2018, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Marietta, SC - Coordinates: 35.023612, -82.542778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0236&lon=-82.5428&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97728 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA411 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97728/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97728 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA411 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a loss of directional control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Quicksilver MXL II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=059003C), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Quicksilver MXL II, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=059003C), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Quicksilver MXL II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=059003C), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Quicksilver MXL II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=059003C), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Quicksilver MXL II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=059003C), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Quicksilver MXL II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=059003C), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during a pleasure flight, he decided to land on a relative's asphalt driveway. He added that, during the landing, a wind gust "caught a wing," and the airplane was forced onto the driveway. Subsequently, the airplane impacted a fence during the landing roll. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the rudder, and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation system located about 13 nautical miles southeast from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 130° at 7 knots. The pilot landed the airplane uphill to the north. The pilot reported that the wind at the accident site was light and variable. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, during a pleasure flight, he decided to land on a relative's asphalt driveway. He added that, during the landing, a gust of wind "caught a wing" and the airplane was forced onto the driveway. Subsequently, the airplane impacted a fence during the landing roll. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the rudder and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation system located about 13 nautical miles southeast from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 130° at 7 knots. The pilot landed uphill to the north. The pilot reported that the wind at the accident site was light and variable. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N126AS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N126AS), registered now, S/N 861AMS, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Eipper QUICKSILVER (MXLII) - Registry model: [Quicksilver MXL II](https://openairdocs.org/model/quicksilver-mxl-ii) (registry code 059003C) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-series) (registry code 55564, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 861AMS - Year built: 1994 - Airframe hours: 980 - Engines: Rotax 503 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 4, 2017 - Departed: Marrietta, SC - Destination: Marietta, SC - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; sport pilot, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, unknown; last flight review August 3, 2016; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,500 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.36 inHg - Observed at: KGMU, 13 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 20180421010539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180421010539A), Apr 21, 2018: Quicksilver MXL II, Marietta, SC, Substantial damage. On April 21, 2018 at 1200 hrs, [privacy data omitted]operator of aircraft N126AS, Quicksilver model mxlii, along with one passenger, was performing a landing… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 10, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97728. 5.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467303&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Picture (item 2, .PDF, 402 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467304&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Picture-Master.PDF - Pilot ROC (item 3, .PDF, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467305&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20ROC-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.