Summary
On December 02, 2010, a Sabre TRIKE (N765MH) was involved in an accident near Peoria, AZ. The accident resulted in 1 fatal injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: An in-flight loss of control for undetermined reasons.
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.
This accident is documented in NTSB report WPR11LA069. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N765MH.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
An in-flight loss of control for undetermined reasons.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
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.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR11LA069