Air Creation TANARG N2751N

Summary

On 30 September 2012 at about 23:30 local time, a Air Creation TANARG registered N2751N, operated by Schmitt Adam N, was involved in an accident near Safford, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 September 2012 at 23:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Safford, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Safford Regional Airport (SAD)

Coordinates

33.3392, -109.9544

Aircraft

Air Creation TANARG

Registration

N2751N

Engines

1

Operator

Schmitt Adam N

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Safford → Show Low

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12LA442

1 person died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control while maneuvering in high wind conditions and his failure to adjust the trim appropriately. Contributing to the accident was the airplane’s nonstandard modified wing configuration.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While flying in loose formation with another airplane to the destination airport, the accident airplane descended to about 400 feet above ground level. The pilot subsequently advised the pilot of the other airplane that the wind had become stronger and was affecting his airplane’s controllability. He added that he might attempt to land or consider returning to the departure airport. Shortly thereafter, the airplane made a descending right turn and impacted the ground. An examination of the wreckage revealed that the airplane was equipped with a nonstandard, smaller wing and was trimmed to the near full nose-down position, which would increase the airplane’s stall speed. According to the wing manufacturer, the nonstandard wing has controllability problems at high speeds. Surface weather observations reported wind gusting to 22 knots near the time of the accident. The combination of the nonstandard wing, which reduced controllability, the full nose-down trim, which increased the stall speed, and the high wind gusts resulted in the pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane. Postmortem toxicological testing of specimens from the pilot indicated the recent use of marijuana. Although the levels were such that the use may have been impairing, the actual effects on the flight could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.