UNREG

Substantial
Serious

AIRBORNE X-SeriesS/N: 503-778

Accident Details

Date
Sunday, October 7, 2018
NTSB Number
ANC19LA004
Location
North Pole, AK
Event ID
20181024X44132
Coordinates
64.771667, -147.246673
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
1
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The student pilot's decision to fly the weight-shift-controlled airplane with no training in the airplane type, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain shortly after takeoff.

Aircraft Information

Registration
UNREG
Make
AIRBORNE
Serial Number
503-778
Engine Type
None
Model / ICAO
X-SeriesFK9
No. of Engines
0

Analysis

On October 7, 2018, about 1500 Alaska daylight time, an unregistered weight-shift controlled, Airborne X-series Redback "Trike" aircraft, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control and impact with terrain shortly after takeoff from Lakewood Airport (78AA), North Pole, Alaska. The student pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 visual flight rules (VFR) flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

According to the student pilot, the flight was his first flight in the unregistered trike and he had received no flight training in the aircraft prior to the accident but had downloaded and then read the aircraft's manuals. After applying full power and reaching an airspeed of about 30 knots he pushed forward on the control bar to initiate the liftoff. Shortly after liftoff the aircraft turned right, felt like it" stalled" and impacted the ground resulting in substantial damage to the carriage keel and wing.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

The pilot reported that he believed the trike was an ultralight aircraft. According to the trike's operating manual, the aircraft specifications exceeded the maximum takeoff weight, fuel capacity, and seat limitations stated in 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 103 for ultralight aircraft.

After repeated attempts, the pilot did not submit an NTSB Pilot/Operator Accident Report form (NTSB Form 6120.1) as required.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC19LA004