Natrona County International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Casper, Wyoming 82604
Saturday, April 19, 2008 8:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While en route on a cross-country flight, the pilot attempted to adjust the roll trim of the airplane and manipulated the wing leveler knob, but the knob fell off. While struggling to replace the knob and tighten the securing hardware, the airplane ended up with a left wing-down trim that he was unable to correct. While attempting to land at the destination airport, he had to input full right-stick deflection and left rudder to maintain straight flight. He made a low approach and opted to go-around. On the second landing attempt, the airplane touched down hard and bounced, then continued off the left side of the runway. The airplane incurred substantial damage to the canard during the runway excursion. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine prior to the accident, with the exception of the improperly safetied wing leveler trim knob. Due to the significant left wing down trim, and the need to cross-control the airplane, the pilot was unable to maintain directional control with the reduced control authority available.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of directional control on landing due to the separation of the wing leveler trim knob and resulting reduced aileron control.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/19/2008
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 830
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Casper
Event State WYOMING
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 82604
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 425428N
Event Location Longitude 1062751W
Event Location Airport Natrona County International
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CPR
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 853 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID CPR
Elevation of weather observation facility 5350
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 16
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 22
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.79
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23707
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 30 2008 11:48AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N39425
NTSB Number LAX08CA119
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Carlson
Aircraft Model Quickie Q2
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 2236
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Kelly G. Kelly
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Roundup
Operator State MT
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code VEL
Departure City Vernal
Departure State UT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code CPR
Destination City Casper
Destination State WY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 29 2008 6:09PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21
Runway Length 10165
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --