Cherry Grove Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wanamingo, Minnesota 55983
Sunday, August 26, 2012 15:35 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he had completed one low approach in the weight-shift-controlled airplane and was making a second low approach at a slower speed and lower altitude. As the airplane started to climb after the low approach, the passenger asked the pilot if the airplane could be maneuvered to the left to avoid trees on the right side. The pilot stated that he began a turn to the left, and the airplane lost lift and speed. He attempted to recover, but the airplane struck a corn crop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He stated that the accident was avoidable and was due to pilot error.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/26/2012
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1535
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Wanamingo
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 55983
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 441601N
Event Location Longitude 0924813W
Event Location Airport Cherry Grove
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PVT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
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) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30704
NTSB Notification Source FAA-AGL-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 16 2013 2:02PM
User who most recently changed record grol
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5152E
NTSB Number CEN12CA588
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Trick Trikes
Aircraft Model STSS
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number STSS002
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category --
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Aug 28 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 205
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Michael S. Adams
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Inver Grove Heights
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55076
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Michael S. Adams
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Inver Grove Heights
Operator State MN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 55076
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SGS
Departure City South St Paul
Departure State MN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code PVT
Destination City Wanamingo
Destination State MN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 16 2013 2:03PM
User who most recently changed record grol
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --