WPR23FA138

The pilot was conducting a personal flight in the weight-shift-control aircraft. A friend of the pilot, who was flying in the area in his powered parachute, witnessed the accident aircraft flying in level flight toward his position. When he looked back, the aircraft was turning toward him, and shortly thereafter, he saw the aircraft in a flat spin that continued until it impacted the ground. Examination of the wreckage at the accident site revealed that the parachute likely deployed from its containment bag as a result of ground impact forces. The parachute T-handle remained in the handle mount and the safety pin was found adjacent to the pin hole area. The safety pin engagement surface area exhibited less sooting residue than the head of the pin, consistent with it being installed in the T-handle mount at the time of the accident. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot exceeded the aircraft’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering, resulting in an aerodynamic stall/spin and loss of control.

On April 1, 2023, about 0735 mountain daylight time, N3517Q (expired registration number), Aerotrike Cobra weight-shift-control (WSC) light sport aircraft was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. The pilot was fatally injured. The aircraft was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to family members, the pilot departed from Dona Ana County International Jetport Airport (DNA), Santa Teresa, New Mexico, the morning of the accident. The pilot planned to meet up with a friend who was flying in the area. The friend, who was conducting an instructional tandem flight in a powered parachute, witnessed the accident aircraft north of his position, in level flight about 1,100 ft above ground level (agl). He then saw the trike turn south towards his position. Shortly thereafter, he saw the accident aircraft in a flat spin that continued until it impacted the ground. He further stated that the engine appeared to be operating normally, and he didn’t see anything broken or deformed with the wing while it was in the spin. Nearby witnesses reported hearing the impact with the ground and subsequent explosion. An examination of the accident site revealed that the aircraft impacted a street surface near an intersection. A small area fire ensued, consuming some of the wreckage and portions of nearby trees. The wing structure and carriage, which remained attached, displayed impact and thermal damage. The airframe parachute system had activated, and the parachute deployed from its containment bag and remained in the parachute sleeve. The parachute T-handle remained in the handle mount and the safety pin was found adjacent to the pin hole area. The safety pin engagement surface area exhibited less sooting residue than the head of the pin. (See figures 1 and 2.) Figure 1-Accident site, parachute T-handle and pin. Figure 2-Accident site, parachute T-handle and pin. Handle moved from postaccident position. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. An autopsy of the pilot was performed by the Office of the Medical Investigator at the University of New Mexico. According to the autopsy report, the cause of death was blunt trauma, and the manner of death was accident. The pilot’s logbook did not reveal any flight experience or training in a WSC trike.