Airborne Windsports EDGE XT-912-L N123FJ

Summary

On 29 July 2013 at about 16:51 local time, a Airborne Windsports EDGE XT-912-L registered N123FJ was involved in an accident near Red Bluff, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 July 2013 at 16:51

Classification

Accident

Location

Red Bluff, California, United States

Nearest airport

Red Bluff (KRBL)

Coordinates

40.1503, -122.2519

Aircraft

Airborne Windsports EDGE XT-912-L

Registration

N123FJ

Year built

2008

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Red Bluff → Chico

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR13LA347

1 person died.

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.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A witness reported observing the weight-shift tricycle airplane take off, make a very steep climb, roll right, and then descend vertically to the ground. A postimpact fire ensued and destroyed the airplane. The witness also reported hearing full-power engine noise coming from the airplane throughout the climb and vertical descent. Another witness, who arrived on-scene immediately after the accident, stated that the pilot was immobile and about 6 ft away from the wreckage. An autopsy of the pilot did not reveal any injuries that are typically associated with seatbelt usage, and it is likely that he was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the accident. A flight instructor who instructs in weight-shift tricycle airplanes stated that, without the seatbelt fastened, moving the airplane's weight around would pull the pilot out of the seat.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.