Air Trikes TOURIST UNREG

Summary

On 20 September 2006 at about 23:34 local time, a Air Trikes TOURIST registered UNREG was involved in an accident near Middlebury, Vermont, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 September 2006 at 23:34

Classification

Accident

Location

Middlebury, Vermont, United States

Coordinates

43.9708, -73.1781

Aircraft

Air Trikes TOURIST

Registration

UNREG

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Middlebury → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC06LA227

2 people died.

A loss of control for undetermined reasons.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Two witnesses observed the unregistered weight-shift control aircraft as it maneuvered. While maneuvering, the aircraft was "flying up to high altitudes and cutting the engine." The aircraft would glide to a lower altitude before restarting the engine and repeating the process. The aircraft also performed several steep bank turns at a "lower than normal" altitude. Just before the accident, one witness observed the aircraft "doing all sorts of crazy maneuvers." Moments later the aircraft began "spinning" or "corkscrewing" to the left, as descended vertically to the ground. The aircraft disappeared from view behind a tree line, but "at the last second" the engine briefly increased power, followed by silence. Examination of the accident scene revealed signatures consistent with a near-vertical descent and a postimpact fire. Examination of the wreckage revealed signatures consistent with overstress separation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.