Aerotrike Safari
Lake City, MI — May 23, 2009
Event Information
| Date | May 23, 2009 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | CEN09CA334 |
| Event ID | 20090604X93038 |
| Location | Lake City, MI |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 44.32028, -85.17111 |
| Airport | Home Acres Sky Ranch Airport |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
Aircraft
| Make | Aerotrike |
| Model | Safari |
| Category | WSFT |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the initial climb.
Full Narrative
The experimental weight-shift-control aircraft was performing a takeoff from runway 18 when the accident occurred. The pilot stated that during initial climb, about 10-12 feet above the ground, the aircraft began to descend and drift off the runway centerline. The pilot was not able to correct for the descent and lateral drift before the aircraft landed hard on its rear landing gear. The right wingtip impacted the terrain as the aircraft bounced twice and tipped onto its side. The wing and its king post were substantially damaged during the accident. The pilot stated that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures. According to the pilot, the local surface winds were 3-5 knots from the west-southwest. A nearby weather station reported that the surface winds were 7 knots from the northwest.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.