# NTSB MIA07CA044: Airborne Windsports Classic, N757LW, Sebring, FL, January 26, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 26, 2007, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Sebring, FL - Coordinates: 27.456388, -81.342224 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4564&lon=-81.3422&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 31, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Orlando, Florida - NTSB case key (mKey): 65500 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA07CA044 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65500/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA07CA044 ## Probable cause The pilot's delay on the runway prior to takeoff that resulted in an encounter with wake turbulence from a landing jet that had to perform a go-around. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Vortex turbulence encountered, takeoff - initial climb - miscellaneous - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - missed approach - initiated, pilot of other aircraft - wake turbulence - encountered, pilot in command - monitoring - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot stated that he monitored the common traffic frequency, taxied to the departure end of runway 36 at Sebring Regional Airport, performed his pre-departure checks, turned the airplane around to check the area for traffic, and then taxied into position on the runway and initiated the takeoff. He said that the takeoff was normal and upon reaching 100 to 200 feet he saw a shadow on his right, and a "jet" descended directly in front of him. he said that the turbojet's wake caused an upset and he managed to correct the movement to the point where the landing gear was to the ground by diving to the left. He also said he did his best to level the wings but the airplane impacted the ground either with the left main landing gear or the left wing, incurring damage. The FAA inspector who responded to the accident stated that witnesses reported the accident pilot had remained on the runway for an extended period of time, necessitating the pilot of the turbojet to execute a go-around. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the damaged Airborne Windsports LTD Classic "Trike" aircraft stated that he monitored the common traffic frequency, taxied to the departure end of runway 36 at Sebring Regional Airport, performed his pre-departure checks, turned the aircraft around to check the area for traffic, and then taxied into position on the runway and initiated the takeoff. He said that the takeoff was normal, and upon reaching 100 to 200 feet he saw a shadow on his right, and a "jet" descended directly in front of him. He said the jet was moving fast, and looked like it was going to land too far down the runway. Then the jet appeared to a nose up position, and it seemed as he was going to fly through the wake of the jet so he "pulled the nose in and turned to the right expecting the wake to turn him to the left." He said the wake did just as he expected, and further said that the nose of the airplane lifted up from the right to the left and the right wing went up, and the left wing came down. He said he managed to correct the movement to the point where the landing gear was to the ground by diving to the left. He also said he did his best to level the wings but the airplane impacted the ground either with the left main landing gear or the left wing, incurring damage. After coming to a stop he said he secured the electrical switches and exited the "Trike", to find that the jet was making a final approach to the runway. He said he waved the jet off, and later learned that the jet was Mexican registered, and was the one wake he had encountered. The pilot said that the jet then executed a second missed approach, flew the pattern, and landed on runway 32. The FAA inspector who responded to the accident stated that during the course of his examination it was determined through speaking with witnesses that the accident pilot had remained on the runway for an extended period of time, necessitating the pilot of the turbojet execute a go-around. According to the inspector, the crew of the Mexican registered jet departed the area and no information pertaining to them or their airplane was obtained ## Aircraft - Registration: [N757LW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N757LW-2007-02-28), registration cancelled 2007-02-28, S/N 582-1064, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Airborne Windsports LTD Classic - Registry model: [Airborne Windsports Ltd PTY CLASSIC](https://openairdocs.org/model/airborne-windsports-ltd-pty-classic) (registry code 05901CT) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 582-1060 - Airframe hours: 12 - Engines: Rotax 582 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Float Planes and Amphibs LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Departed: SEF, Sebring, FL - Destination: SEF - Airport: SEF, Sebring, runway 36, 5,190 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 45; injuries: minor; sport pilot, flight engineer, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; last flight review September 1, 2005; seat: rear; flight hours: 25,000 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days - Student pilot; age 73; injuries: serious; airline transport, sport pilot; medical: unknown; seat: rear; flight hours: 23,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 7 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: BOW ## 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 20070126001299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070126001299A), Jan 26, 2007: Airbau CLASSIC, Sebring, FL, Destroyed. (-23) N757LW made an emergency landing, due to the wake turbulence created from a landing hawkerjet, HS-125 (xa-ueh). Instructor of N757LW stated that he… 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.