# NTSB MIA01LA190: Cuevas, Orlando S MXL II Sport, N4305C, Arroyo, PR, July 14, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 14, 2001, 18:40 local (22:40 UTC) - Place: Arroyo, PR - Coordinates: 18.007499, -66.066665 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=18.0075&lon=-66.0667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report June 18, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 53363 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA01LA190 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53363/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA190 ## Probable cause the pilots failure to maintain directional control during climb, which resulted in the airplane drifting off course and impacting with trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, climb - object - tree(s) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis A witness observed the airplane takeoff from a strip of sandy beach in an easterly direction en route to a nearby airport. The witnesses stated that the pilot applied "full throttle," the airplane rolled for a short distances, lifted off "normally...climbed normally," and continued to gain altitude in a straight line when it "unexpectedly" started turning left toward the line of palm trees. The airplane disappeared from his view, he then heard the noise of the propeller "thrashing" against the palm leaves, the engine stopped, he saw the aircraft "plummet" straight down from the tree top, and all the time to the moment of impact, "the engine sounded as if it was delivering full power." ## Factual narrative On July 14, 2001, about 1840 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Cuevas, Orlando S., Quick Silver MXL II Sport homebuilt airplane, N4305C, registered to an individual, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with trees on initial climb from a beach near Arroyo, Puerto Rico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The recreational-rated pilot reported serious injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to a witness, he observed the airplane depart from a "strip of sandy beach" next to a resort apartment. He said the airplane was preparing for takeoff in an easterly direction en route to a nearby airport. The pilot applied "full throttle," the airplane rolled for a short distances "lifted off...climbed normally," and continued to gain altitude in a straight line when "...unexpectedly [it] started turning left toward the line of palm trees bordering the apartment complex." For a moment the witness felt the airplane would clear the trees when it disappeared from his view. He "immediately..…heard the noise of the propeller thrashing against the palm leaves, the engine stopped and [he] saw the aircraft plummet straight down from the [tree] top." In addition, he said "…..all the time to the moment of impact, the engine sounded as if it was delivering full power." According to the FAA inspector this same witness told him that this accident happened late in the afternoon, and you can find heavy gusty conditions during the month of July. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4305C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4305C-2004-02-18), registration cancelled 2004-02-18, S/N 208 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cuevas, Orlando S MXL II Sport - Registry model: [Cuevas Orlando S MXL 2 SPORT](https://openairdocs.org/model/cuevas-orlando-s-mxl-2-sport) (registry code 05676QD) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 208 - Airframe hours: 208 - Engines: Rotax 52 52 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jenaro Cartagena - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 6, 2001 - Departed: Arroyo, PR - Destination: Arroyo, PR - Airport: Patillas, runway 070, 2,000 × 50 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: serious; recreational; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: single; flight hours: 200 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: SJU, 60 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 20010714029239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010714029239A), Jul 14, 2001: Patillas, Puerto Rico, No damage. (-23) Aircraft tookoff from the ocean shore and at approximately 50 ft from the ground a gust of wind pushed the aircraft against a palm tree. Aircraft hit the… ## Other investigations on N4305C (1) 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. - [NTSB MIA93LA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA93LA040), Dec 19, 1992: Cuevas, Orlando S. Quicksilver MXL 2 (N4305C), Guayama, PR, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHILE MAKING A GO AROUND FOLLOWING A BOUNCED LANDING RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH TREES. 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.