Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hayesville, North Carolina 28904
Saturday, November 11, 2000 16:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

No witnesses saw the ultralight depart the grass field, nor did anyone witness the crash. A heavy equipment operator saw the ultralight taxi, thought it was too windy to fly, and didn't think any more about the craft until he saw the wreckage over a fence, and called 911. Examination of the wreckage by the sheriff department investigator and the airstrip owner revealed the 'trike', movable wing configured ultralight sustained no obvious mechanical failures of the structure, rigging, or engine. The airstrip owner and a USUA instructor stated that the pilot had sustained numerous landing crashes since purchasing the ultralight. The accident flight was the first attempt by the pilot to fly with sandbag ballast in the rear seat and a runway crosswind condition.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The ultralight pilot's in-flight loss of control for unknown reasons resulting in an in-flight collision with the terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/11/2000
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City HAYESVILLE
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 28904
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1653 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 350
Weather Observation Facility ID TYS
Elevation of weather observation facility 981
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 46
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1059
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 14 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jul 2 2001 3:50PM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number NONE
NTSB Number MIA01LA026
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name J and J
Aircraft Model TUKAN
Aircraft Series Identifier TUKAN
Aircraft Serial Number
Certified Max Gross Weight 254
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Not Registered
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Mar 30 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 500
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name YVES VERNIER
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 1375
Aircraft Owner City MURPHY
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28906
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 2 2001 4:09AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --