# NTSB WPR11LA069: Sabre Trike, N765MH, Peoria, AZ, December 2, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 1, 2010, 17:00 local (Dec 2, 2010, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Peoria, AZ - Coordinates: 33.79111, -112.248054 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7911&lon=-112.2481&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report August 15, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Rotax flight safety Inc. - NTSB case key (mKey): 77919 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11LA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77919/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77919 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA069 ## Probable cause An in-flight loss of control for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Sabre TRIKE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05904KS), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Sabre TRIKE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05904KS), [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: [Sabre TRIKE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05904KS), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a personal flight, the experimental light-sport weight-shift-control aircraft was observed by witnesses in a spiraling descent until it impacted the ground. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the loss of control was not determined. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 1, 2010, about 1700 mountain standard time (MST), an experimental light-sport weight-shift-control Sabre Trike, N765MH, impacted terrain during an uncontrolled descent near Pleasant Valley Airport, Peoria, Arizona. The owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The sport pilot was fatally injured; the trike sustained substantial damage to both wings and fuselage structure. The local personal instructional flight departed Peoria at an unknown time. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. Witnesses near the airport saw the trike in a spiraling descent before losing sight of it. After a short search of the area, the accident site was located about 0.5 nm south of the airport. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector from the Scottsdale Flight Standards District Office responded to the accident site. The debris field, including the trike and all of the components and control surfaces, were within the immediate impact area. A 60-pound bag of dry ready cement was found in the front area of the trike wreckage. It was later discovered that the pilot was using the cement bag as a ballast to simulate a front seat passenger. The accident site was documented, and the trike was recovered for further examination. On December 2, 2010, the Maricopa County Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy on the pilot. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma of torso and extremities. The manner of death was by accident. On December 8, 2010, investigators examined the wreckage at Air Transport, Inc., Phoenix, Arizona. The engine was examined; after minor adjustments the engine was started, and ran without issues. Examination of the airframe revealed no abnormalities that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N765MH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N765MH-2012-11-14), registration cancelled 2012-11-14, S/N 002, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SABRE TRIKE - Registry model: [Sabre TRIKE](https://openairdocs.org/model/sabre-trike) (registry code 05904KS) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 447](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-447) (registry code 55576, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: 002 - Airframe hours: 91 - Engines: ROTAX 447 40 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 25, 2010 - Departed: P48, Peoria, AZ - Destination: P48, Peoria, AZ - Airport: P48, Pleasant Valley Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: fatal; sport pilot; medical: sport pilot; seat: rear; toxicology performed; flight hours: 195 total, 190 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: GEU, 16 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 20101201053369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101201053369A), Dec 1, 2010: Sabre TRIKE, Peoria, AZ, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On 12/01/2010 N765MH crashed @ 1 mile south of Pleasant Valley Glider Port (P48). There was one occupant (monte l. haag, sport pilot cert. Number [privacy data… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 20, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77919. 905 KB in all. - Rotax Engine Exam Report (item 1, .PDF, 20 photos, 673 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369984&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Rotax%20Engine%20Exam%20Report-Master.PDF - Cable Fracture Exam Statement (item 2, .PDF, 16 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369985&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cable%20Fracture%20Exam%20Statement-Master.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 3, .PDF, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369986&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 4, .PDF, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369989&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-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.