NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF THE FLIGHT

On July 29, 2013, at 0951 Pacific daylight time, an Airborne Windsports Edge XT-912-L, N123FJ, impacted terrain immediately after takeoff at Red Bluff Municipal Airport, Red Bluff, California. The ground impact and subsequent fire destroyed the airplane, and the private pilot was fatally injured. The special light sport weight-shift airplane was registered to the pilot, who operated it under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. The flight originated at Red Bluff and was destined for Chico, California.

A witness, who was about 300 feet away, reported seeing the weight-shift tricycle (trike) type airplane takeoff, make a very steep climb, roll to the right, and descend vertically to the ground. The witness was able to pull the pilot away from the wreckage before the post accident fire consumed the airplane. Engine noise, described as full power by the witness, was heard coming from the airplane throughout the climb and vertical descent. The wreckage was located about 75 yards west of runway 15, near the touchdown zone markings.

The sheriff's report states that the witness who arrived on-scene first found the deceased pilot 5 to 6 feet from the main wreckage. Upon seeing the airplane burning, they dragged the pilot another 20 to 30 feet away from the accident site. Additionally, the sheriff's report states that the pilot had left the door to his vehicle open and the window down.

The wreckage was documented by the Red Bluff police department. A review of the photographs did not reveal any visual evidence of airframe failure or malfunction.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot, age 65, held a private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land issued October 20, 1993, and a third-class airman medical certificate issued January 17, 2013, with the limitation that he have glasses for near vision. A review of the pilot's logbook revealed that he had accumulated 419 total flight hours, and 7.1 hours in the accident airplane. He had completed 4 instructional flights in the accident airplane between June 29 and July 23, 2013. He flew a 1-hour flight on July 27, and the logbook has the remark "landings solo" for that flight.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The tandem two-seat configured weight shift motorized trike airplane, serial number XT-912-0294, was manufactured in 2008. It was powered by a Rotax 912UL 80-hp reciprocating engine and equipped with a Bolly Optima 3-bladed fixed pitch propeller. A review of a copy of the aircraft maintenance logbook showed that the most recent conditional inspection was performed on March 5, 2013, at 404.46 airframe hours. On May 2, 2013, a new Airborne SST 0-hour wing was installed.

MEDICAL & PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

An autopsy was performed on the pilot on July 30, 2013, by the Forensic Medical Group, Inc, for the Tehama County Sheriff. The cause of death was annotated as multiple blunt force injures. FAA medical records document that the pilot reported having high blood pressure controlled with atenolol. The autopsy report did not identify specific injuries associated with a lap or shoulder belt.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Civil Aerospace Medical Institute performed toxicology on specimen from the pilot with negative results for carbon monoxide and cyanide. Atenolol was detected in the liver and blood.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A certified flight instructor (CFI), who instructs in trike weight shift aircraft, at the request of the NTSB investigator-in-charge assisted the Redbluff Police in documenting the accident scene. The CFI provided a document containing photos and descriptions of the accident site. The CFI stated that without the seatbelt fastened, moving the weight of the trike around would pull the pilot out of the seat.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to properly secure himself in the cockpit with the seat belt, which resulted in his inability to control the airplane after takeoff.