# NTSB MIA08LA162: North Wing Apache CLA, N3880A, Boynton Beach, FL, August 9, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 9, 2008, 08:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Boynton Beach, FL - Coordinates: 26.548055, -80.214721 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5481&lon=-80.2147&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 19, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68671 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA08LA162 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68671/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=68671 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08LA162 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to maintain control of the aircraft. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [North Wing APACHE CLASSIC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05904IF), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [North Wing APACHE CLASSIC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05904IF), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [North Wing APACHE CLASSIC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=05904IF), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [North Wing APACHE CLASSIC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05904IF), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [North Wing APACHE CLASSIC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05904IF), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The non-qualified pilot initiated a takeoff to the west in a weight-shift aircraft. Winds prevailed from the south at the time. After becoming airborne he was unable to maintain control of the aircraft which descended, collided with trees, and then impacted the edge of a canal. No evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction with the aircraft was noted. ## Factual narrative On August 9, 2008, about 0830 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Apache Classic weight shift aircraft, N3880A, registered to a private individual, experienced an in-flight loss of control and impacted terrain shortly after takeoff from Willis Gliderport (FA44), Boynton Beach, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal, local flight from FA44. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the commercial certificated pilot sustained serious injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he has no independent recollection of the accident. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector-in-charge (IIC), who went to the accident site, and spoke with several witnesses, reported that at the time of departure, the wind was from the south. The pilot departed using the west runway and after becoming airborne, the aircraft rolled to the right. The aircraft circled to the south of the airstrip, and impacted trees while descending. The airplane then impacted the edge of a canal located south of runway 9/27. The airplane came to rest on the airstrip property. Examination of the weight shift aircraft by the FAA-IIC revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. The FAA-IIC reported that the pilot was required to obtain 2 weeks of training specific to the make and model aircraft to be flown, but he admitted that he did not receive any instruction. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3880A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3880A-2012-09-18), registration cancelled 2012-09-18, S/N 00001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH WING APACHE CLA - Registry model: [North Wing APACHE CLASSIC](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-wing-apache-classic) (registry code 05904IF) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Hirth 2706](https://openairdocs.org/engine/hirth-2706) (registry code 33703, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: 00001 - Engines: HIRTH 2706 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Tandield Theodore E Jr - Registered owner: Tandield Theodore E Jr - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: FA44, Boynton Beach, FL - Airport: FA44, Willis Gliderport, runway 27, 3,600 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 31, 2007; seat: front; flight hours: 1,027 total, 8 in this make and model, 895 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: PBI, 10 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 20080809857179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080809857179A), Aug 9, 2008: Norwn APACHECLASSC, Boynton Beach, FL, Destroyed. (-23) On August 9, 2008 about 0830 eastern standard time, registered N3880A, northwing, apache classic, a light sport aircraft (LSA), weight shift controlled… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 28, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=68671. 896 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 603 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40307375&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40307376&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Record of NTSB Conversations (item 3, .PDF, 228 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317556&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20NTSB%20Conversations-Redacted.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.