# NTSB WPR13CA019: Quicksilver Mfg MXL II Sport, N187AB, Live Oak, CA, October 20, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 20, 2012, 14:20 local (21:20 UTC)
- Place: Live Oak, CA
- Coordinates: 39.221111, -121.698059 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2211&lon=-121.6981&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 19, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 85379
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA019
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85379/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85379
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA019

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to compensate for turbulent conditions, which resulted in a loss of altitude.

## Findings

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

- [Temp/humidity/pressure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Quicksilver Mfg MXL II SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031000/cases.md?model=05903WI), [All aircraft, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031000/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Quicksilver Mfg MXL II SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=05903WI), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md)
- [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Quicksilver Mfg MXL II SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=05903WI), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/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 lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Quicksilver Mfg MXL II SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=05903WI), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Quicksilver Mfg MXL II SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05903WI), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he departed the airstrip, and the airplane experienced light turbulence. He entered a left traffic pattern to the downwind leg, and the turbulence stopped. After executing a touch-and-go landing, the pilot departed to the south. Subsequently, between 50 and 100 feet above ground level, the airplane began to lose lift. The pilot landed the airplane in a rice field, it nosed over as the wheels contacted the vegetation, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported he departed the airstrip and experienced light turbulence. He entered a left traffic pattern to the downwind leg and the turbulence stopped. After executing a touch-and-go landing the pilot departed to the south. Subsequently, between 50 and 100 feet above ground level (AGL) he began to lose lift. The pilot landed the airplane in a rice field and it nosed over as the wheels contacted the vegetation. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N187AB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N187AB-2018-02-07), registration cancelled 2018-02-07, S/N 000790 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: QUICKSILVER MFG MXL II SPORT
- Registry model: [Quicksilver Mfg MXL II SPORT](https://openairdocs.org/model/quicksilver-mfg-mxl-ii-sport) (registry code 05903WI) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 582DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582dcdi) (registry code 55562, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 000790
- Airframe hours: 95
- Engines: ROTAX 582DCDI 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Cameron Kane
- Registered owner: Cameron Kane
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 2, 2012, 30 hours before
- Departed: N/A, Live Oak, CA
- Destination: N/A, Live Oak, CA
- Airport: N/A, Sutter Butte Dusters (Ag), runway 18, 2,200 × 30 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; sport pilot, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; last flight review May 8, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 153 total, 28 in this make and model, 112 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observed at: MYV, 11 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 20121020026759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121020026759A), Oct 20, 2012: Quicksilver Mfg MXL II SPORT, Live Oak, CA, Substantial damage. The pilot was giving rides to family members. The accident flight a passenger embarked (135LBS), pilot (180LBS). Departed 18 off an asphalt paved strip at…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 1, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85379. 199 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 139 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380405&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380641&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.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.

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