ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 219478
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Friday 14 December 2018 |
| Time: | 07:40 |
| Type: | Quicksilver MXL II Sport |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N350FT |
| MSN: | 0936 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2008 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 411 hours |
| Engine model: | Rotax 582 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Shannon Airport (KEZF), Fredericksburg, VA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Fredericksburg-Shannon Airport, VA (KEZF) |
| Fredericksburg-Shannon Airport, VA (KEZF) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The commercial pilot was operating an experimental amateur-built airplane on a personal flight in the airport traffic pattern. Video and audio recovered from an airframe-mounted camera, along with track data recorded by two onboard GPS receivers, revealed that, during the initial climb, the throttle was reduced, and then increased back to climb engine power for the upwind and crosswind legs of the traffic pattern. As the airplane turned toward the downwind leg at an altitude of about 300 feet, the throttle was reduced, increased briefly, and then was reduced again to what sounded consistent with an idle setting. The video and GPS track data showed that rather than aligning with the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the airplane continued in a tightening, steepening, left turn with the engine at idle power. The airplane's last GPS-recorded position was over the accident site. The GPS data also showed that the airplane's groundspeed during the turn was near the airplane's published/placarded stall speeds. Just before ground impact, the video camera recorded a "pop" sound consistent with activation of the airplane's ballistic recovery system parachute. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot had purchased the airplane about 3 months before the accident. At the time of purchase, the airplane had an open-cockpit, tubular-framed configuration. The pilot subsequently enclosed the open cockpit using PVC tubing, sheets of plexiglass, and zip ties. The investigation could not determine whether the cockpit modifications affected the handling and stall characteristics of the airplane. These modifications notwithstanding, the GPS data showed that the airplane was operating at or near its stall speed, had entered a tight left turn, and had likely encountered an aerodynamic stall before it descended to ground impact.
Probable Cause: The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, which led to an aerodynamic stall while turning in the traffic pattern at low altitude.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
FAA register: https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=350FT
Location
Media:
PHOTOS: Small plane crashes a short distance from Shannon Airport in #Fredericksburg Virginia. The pilot/sole occupant survived but hospitalized w/ serious injuries. #breakingnews @nbcwashington #Chopper4 pic.twitter.com/9OVx0r5h8m
— Brad Freitas (@Chopper4Brad) 14 décembre 2018
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 14-Dec-2018 16:51 | Geno | Added |
| 15-Dec-2018 02:47 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Embed code, Damage] |
| 15-Dec-2018 02:51 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Embed code, Narrative, Plane category] |
| 15-Dec-2018 16:18 | Geno | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
| 15-Dec-2018 16:47 | Geno | Updated [Aircraft type, Source, Plane category] |
| 15-Dec-2018 17:06 | Captain Adam | Updated [Total fatalities, Source] |
| 15-Dec-2018 22:08 | Geno | Updated [Registration, Cn, Nature, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 08-Jun-2020 08:38 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative, Plane category, Accident report, ] |
| 08-Jun-2020 17:15 | harro | Updated [Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Accident report, ] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation