# NTSB WPR23LA025: Airborne Windsports Edge X, N354MB, Alturas, CA, October 26, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 25, 2022, 18:00 local (Oct 26, 2022, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Alturas, CA - Coordinates: 41.48664, -120.56523 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4866&lon=-120.5652&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Unknown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA RENO FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106206 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA025 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106206/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106206 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA025 ## Probable cause The non-certificated pilot’s loss of control for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 63 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Unknown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane was observed flying around the area at an unknown time on the day of the accident, but no other information was available about the flight. At about 1800, law enforcement received a notification that aircraft wreckage was discovered on the airport property between a runway and a taxiway. There were no known witnesses to the accident. Before the aircraft was sold to the non-certificated accident pilot, the previous owner had provided the pilot with several familiarization flights and emphasized the importance of obtaining instructional lessons since he had no experience with weight-shift-controlled aircraft. However, the pilot disregarded the advice likely because he assumed the aircraft had similar handling characteristics to hang gliders, which he had previous experience operating. Toxicology testing revealed the pilot had used cannabis; however, since no psychoactive THC or psychoactive metabolite was found in blood samples, it is unlikely that the pilot was under the influence of THC at the time of the accident. Given the pilot’s lack of experience in power gliders and the signature of the terrain impact, it is most likely that the pilot lost control of the power glider for undetermined reasons. ## Factual narrative On October 25, 2022, sometime before 1800 Pacific standard time, an unregistered Airborne Windsports Edge X weight-shift-control aircraft was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Alturas Municipal Airport (AAT), Alturas, California. The non-certificated pilot was fatally injured. The aircraft was operated as Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to law enforcement, an officer was dispatched at approximately 1807 and observed the accident aircraft between the north and southbound runway and taxiway. The responding officer had been on duty earlier and recalled observing the aircraft flying around the area between 1200 and 1500. There were no known witnesses of the accident event. Flight track data of the accident flight was not available. PERSONNEL INFORMATION According to the previous owner, before the transfer of ownership he conducted several flight hours with the accident pilot to demonstrate how the aircraft handles. After the previous owner had suggested not to fly the aircraft without first receiving introductory lessons, the accident pilot expressed confidence, and stated he was familiar with flying hang gliders. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The previous owner stated that the engine and propeller had accumulated 7 hours of total time when he sold the aircraft to the accident pilot. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION The autopsy identified severe atherosclerosis in the pilot’s right coroner artery (95%) and the left anterior descending coronary artery (75%), severe aortic atherosclerosis, cardiomegaly (395 grams), and left ventricular hypertrophy (2.0 centimeters). Toxicology testing detected carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH), in the pilot’s heart blood at 10 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) and in urine at 313.1 ng/mL. 11-hydroxy-delta-9-THC (11-OH-THC) was detected in his urine at 33.7 ng/mL, but not in his blood. The non-impairing medication salicylic acid was detected in the pilot’s heart blood and urine. ## Aircraft - Registration: N354MB (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Airborne Windsports Edge X - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: 582-912 - Engines: Rotax 582 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: None - Airport: ATT - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: fatal; toxicology performed ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KAAT - METAR: METAR KAAT 262355Z AUTO 32007KT 10SM SCT065 08/M06 A3011 ## 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 20221025017959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221025017959A), Oct 25, 2022: Airborne Windsports Pty Ltd EDGE X, Alturas, CA, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. At approximately 1800 local time on 10/25/2022, public works employees discovered the aircraft between runway 13/31 and the parallel taxiway with one POB.… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 30, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106206. 1.9 MB in all. - Photos (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15877024&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Alturas%20Accident%20Photograph_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record - alturas police department (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 88 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15876862&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Alturas%20Police%20Department.-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15877212&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Alturas%20Toxicology_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record - previous owner (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 154 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15897727&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20Previous%20Owner_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Mor duty officer notes (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 116 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15915727&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20DO%20Notes%20N345MB%20NR_Redacted-Rel.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.