# NTSB NYC07LA143: Northwing Design Apache Quest, N425DW, Springfield, VT, June 16, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 16, 2007, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Springfield, VT - Coordinates: 43.342498, -72.509445 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3425&lon=-72.5094&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 66091 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC07LA143 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66091/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07LA143 ## Probable cause The non-certificated pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control, due to the installation of an alternate wing design. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - aircraft control - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - maintenance,design change - improper, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The non-certificated pilot was a co-owner of the aircraft kit manufacturing company, involving the accident airplane. On the day of the accident, the pilot planned to test an alternate wing design, which was to be sold in an aircraft kit to a new customer. The pilot did not have a fuselage available to test the wing, so he asked the owner of the accident airplane to fly to the airport, and assist him with testing the alternate wing. The owner of the airplane agreed, flew to the airport, and assisted the accident pilot in securing the alternate wing to the fuselage of his airplane. The pilot then departed from the airport, and shortly after takeoff, witnesses observed the airplane nose over and impact a lake. The pilot was unable to release his seatbelt, as he was not familiar with this type of fuselage, and was pulled from the airplane by a witness, prior to it sinking in the lake. Examination of the airplane revealed the wing was "defective," and not compatible with the fuselage. ## Factual narrative On June 16, 2007, at 1100 eastern daylight time, an amateur-built experimental light sport aircraft (E-LSA), Northwing Design Apache Quest, N425DW, was substantially damaged after takeoff from the Hartness State Airport (VSF), Springfield, Vermont. The non-certificated pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local test flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot was a co-owner of the aircraft kit manufacturing company; however, he was not a certificated pilot. On the day of the accident, he planned to test an alternate wing design, which was to be sold in an aircraft kit to a new customer. The pilot did not have a fuselage available to test the wing, so he asked the owner of the accident airplane to fly to VSF, and assist him with testing the alternate wing on his fuselage. The owner of the airplane agreed, flew to VSF, and assisted the accident pilot in securing the alternate wing to the fuselage of his airplane. The pilot then departed from VSF, and shortly after takeoff, witnesses observed the airplane nose over and impact a lake. The pilot was unable to release his seatbelt, and was pulled from the airplane by witnesses, prior to it sinking in the lake. Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector revealed the wing was "defective," and not compatible with the fuselage. Substantial damage was observed to fuselage. Weather reported at VSF, at 1054, included wind from 160 degrees at 5 knots, 10 miles visibility, clear skies, temperature 23 degrees Celsius (C), dew point 14 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 29.98 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N425DW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N425DW-2018-01-19), registration cancelled 2018-01-19, S/N 63155 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Northwing Design Apache Quest - Registry model: [Northwing Design APACHE QUEST](https://openairdocs.org/model/northwing-design-apache-quest) (registry code 05901KD) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 63155 - Airframe hours: 172 - Engines: Rotax 503 52 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: Jeff Nicolay - Registered owner: Dennis Dobe - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 1, 2006 - Departed: VSF, Springfield, VT - Airport: VSF, Hartness State Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: serious; seat: front ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: VSF ## 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 20070616014919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070616014919A), Jun 16, 2007: Amtr APACHEQUEST, Charleston, NH, Substantial damage. (-23) Accident occurred June 16, 2007, in the Connecticut river near springfield VT and Charleston NH. The aircraft (a elsa weight shift trike) departed from… 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.