# NTSB LAX08CA294: Air Creation Clipper 912, N21721, Glendale, AZ, August 2, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 2, 2008, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Glendale, AZ - Coordinates: 33.522777, -112.290275 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5228&lon=-112.2903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 22, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68917 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA294 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68917/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA294 ## Probable cause The airplane's encounter with a dust devil. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: dust devil/whirlwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Creation CLIPPER 912, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060/cases.md?model=059003M), [All aircraft, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Air Creation CLIPPER 912, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=059003M), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Creation CLIPPER 912, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=059003M), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane had just touched down when a dust devil approached from the west and lifted the airplane onto its side. The pilot reported that the sky was clear with some restriction to visibility due to blowing dust. Winds were variable at 20 knots, gusting to 35 knots. There were no mechanical failures or malfunctions reported by the pilot. ## Factual narrative On August 2, 2008, about 1130 mountain standard time, an Air Creation Clipper 912 Microlight Trike, N21721, flipped over on its side during landing at Glendale Municipal Airport, Glendale, Arizona. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The private pilot and the passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wing structure. The local personal flight departed Glendale about 1000 PDT. Visual instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that the airplane was on final approach over the runway when it touched down. At that time, a whirlwind or dust devil approached from the west. It lifted the airplane onto its side. The pilot reported that the sky was clear with some restriction to visibility due to blowing dust. Winds were variable at 20 knots, gusting to 35 knots. The pilot reported that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. The FAA notified the National Transporation Safety Board of this accident on September 10, 2008. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N21721](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N21721-2018-01-11), registration cancelled 2018-01-11, S/N T04058 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Creation Clipper 912 - Registry model: [Air Creation CLIPPER 912](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-creation-clipper-912) (registry code 059003M) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T04058 - Airframe hours: 225 - Engines: Rotax 912 60 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 25, 2008 - Departed: GEU, Glendale, AZ - Destination: GEU, Glendale, AZ - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: GEU, Glendale Municipal Airport, runway 19, 7,150 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review January 29, 2007; seat: front; flight hours: 225 total, 225 in this make and model, 165 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 10 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 99 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: GEU ## 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 20080802845489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080802845489A), Aug 2, 2008: CLIPPER912, Glendale, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Block 31 - [privacy data omitted] holds a sport pilot certificate. During landing roll-out on runway 19 at Glendale Municipal Airport, pilot stated a… 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.