N4367X – TRICK TRIKES STORM – 2016-07-31 NTSB Accident Report

On July 31, 2016, a Trick Trikes STORM (N4367X) was involved in an accident near Valkaria, FL. The accident resulted in 2 minor injuries. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot’s premature rotation during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a hard landing.

The pilot of the weight-shift aircraft reported that during takeoff he pitched upward excessively early for the aircraft's weight. Several feet above the ground, the aircraft descended and bounced off the runway. The pilot tried to regain control and take off again, but the aircraft came back down and bounced on the runway. The left main landing gear collapsed and the aircraft slid down the runway approximately 75 feet before coming to rest. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the aircraft. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuselage was substantially damaged.

This accident is documented in NTSB report ERA16CA278. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N4367X.