# NTSB SEA05LA017: Trikes GTE 503 SL, Emmett, ID, November 22, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 21, 2004, 17:05 local (Nov 22, 2004, 00:05 UTC)
- Place: Emmett, ID
- Coordinates: 43.971111, -116.615554
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9711&lon=-116.6156&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 60623
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05LA017
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60623/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05LA017

## Probable cause

The pilot intentionally performing an aerobatic maneuver while not maintaining clearance of the terrain.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - aerobatics - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of certification, pilot in command
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

A friend and fellow-pilot of the accident pilot said that they had flown, in separate aircraft, to Caldwell, Idaho, and were returning to the friend's private grass airstrip north of Emmett, Idaho.  The pilot's friend said that he landed, and then realized that he had lost contact with the accident pilot.  Witnesses said they saw the accident pilot performing a loop, and subsequently impact the ground.  The accident pilot's friend said that the accident pilot had an estimated 30 hours of flight experience in ultralights.  He did not have a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight certificate, nor did he have a FAA ultralight exemption.  The aircraft had two seats, a gross weight of 947 pounds, and a ten gallon fuel tank; therefore, it did not meet the FAR Part 103 regulation for an ultralight aircraft.

## Factual narrative

On November 21, 2004, at approximately 1705 mountain standard time, a Trikes, GTE 503 SL ultralight, a non-registered aircraft, was destroyed following impact with terrain, near Emmett, Idaho.  The non-licensed pilot, the sole occupant in the aircraft, was fatally injured.  The flight was being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country personal flight which originated from Caldwell, Idaho, approximately 65 minutes before the accident.  The pilot had not filed a flight plan.

A friend and fellow-pilot of the accident pilot said that they had flown, in separate aircraft, to Caldwell, Idaho, and were returning to the friend's private grass airstrip north of Emmett, Idaho.  The pilot's friend said that he landed, and then realized that he had lost contact with the accident pilot.  Witnesses said they saw the accident pilot performing a loop, and subsequently impact the ground.

The accident pilot's friend said that the accident pilot had an estimated 30 hours of flight experience in ultralights.  He did not have a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight certificate, nor did he have a FAA ultralight exemption.  The aircraft had two seats, a gross weight of 947 pounds, and a ten gallon fuel tank; therefore, it did not meet the FAR Part 103 regulation for an ultralight aircraft.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Trikes GTE 503 SL
- Category: Ultralight
- Engines: Rotax 503 50 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Darwin S. [Steve] Moore
- Departed: EUL, Caldwell, ID
- Destination: NONE, Emmett, ID

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; injuries: fatal; seat: front; flight hours: 30 total, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 0° at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observed at: KEU, 16 nm away

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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