# NTSB NYC08CA136: J&J Ultralights Sea Wing, N7711Z, Live Oak, FL, March 13, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 13, 2008, 09:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place: Live Oak, FL
- Coordinates: 30.252222, -82.924163
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2522&lon=-82.9242&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 30, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67662
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08CA136
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67662/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA136

## Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a go-around. Contributing to the accident was his habit interference from previously flying conventional airplanes.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [J&J Ultralights SEA WING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05902AC), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [J&J Ultralights SEA WING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=05902AC), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md)
- [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [J&J Ultralights SEA WING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=05902AC), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [J&J Ultralights SEA WING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05902AC), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [J&J Ultralights SEA WING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05902AC), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot of the amateur built SeaWing weight-shift control aircraft was in his first day of solo flight training. He successfully completed "a few" solo takeoffs and landings when the winds increased, which prompted him to switch to a field adjacent to the one he was using. On short final, the aircraft drifted towards trees to the right of the nominal approach path. The pilot initiated a go-around, and applied control inputs that were intended to correct the flight path to the left. The pilot's control inputs caused the aircraft to turn right, and it collided with the trees. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft, and serious injuries to the pilot. The pilot had approximately 700 hours in airplanes, and was learning to fly the accident aircraft. The pitch and directional control inputs for a weight-shift aircraft were opposite those required for an airplane. The flight instructor and student were cognizant of the potential for problems caused by the difference in required control inputs, but neither observed any tendency of the student to make incorrect inputs on any previous flights. The pilot stated that on the accident approach, he reverted to his original training, which was correct for a conventional airplane, but incorrect for the accident aircraft.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot of the amateur built SeaWing weight-shift control aircraft was in his first day of solo flight training. He successfully completed "a few" solo takeoffs and landings when the winds increased, which prompted him to switch to a field adjacent to the one he was using. On short final, the aircraft drifted towards trees to the right of the nominal approach path. The pilot initiated a go-around, and applied control inputs that were intended to correct the flight path to the left. The pilot's control inputs caused the aircraft to turn right, and it collided with the trees. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft, and serious injuries to the pilot. The pilot had approximately 700 hours in airplanes, and was learning to fly the accident aircraft. The pitch and directional control inputs for a weight-shift aircraft were opposite those required for an airplane. The flight instructor and student were cognizant of the potential for problems caused by the difference in required control inputs, but neither observed any tendency of the student to make incorrect inputs on any previous flights. The pilot stated that on the accident approach, he reverted to his original training, which was correct for a conventional airplane, but incorrect for the accident aircraft.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7711Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7711Z), registered now, S/N SWJ582301028, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: J&J Ultralights Sea Wing
- Registry model: [J&J Ultralights SEA WING](https://openairdocs.org/model/j-j-ultralights-sea-wing) (registry code 05904E4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 582DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582dcdi) (registry code 55562, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: SWJ582301028
- Airframe hours: 45
- Engines: Rotax 582DCDI 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Walter Richard
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special); Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, December 1, 2007
- Departed: NONE, Live Oak, FL
- Destination: Live Oak, FL
- Airport: NONE, None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review June 1, 1982; seat: front; flight hours: 700 total, 24 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observed at: 40J, 32 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 20080313836569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080313836569A), Mar 13, 2008: J&Jult SEAWING, Live Oak, FL, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot was receiving instruction in weight shift a/c, a/c made normal westerly approach to grass strip, at approx 15FT AGL, pilot did minor correct to the…

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.

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