N/A Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Covert, Michigan 49043
Friday, August 16, 2013 12:35 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot made two low-altitude passes in a weight-shift airplane over a congested, coastline beach area. Following these two passes, the airplane entered into a steep, right bank turn at low altitude and impacted the beach. The final seconds of the flight were captured by witness video and photos, which indicated that the engine was operating normally and that the wing structure appeared normal. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot’s loss of control while maneuvering at low altitude over a congested beach area. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s ostentatious display.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/16/2013
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1235
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Covert
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49043
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 421756N
Event Location Longitude 0861944W
Event Location Airport N/A
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 --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1235 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 50
Weather Observation Facility ID KLWA
Elevation of weather observation facility 666
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.19
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KLWA 161654Z AUTO 16003KT 10SM CLR 24/10 A30
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 32416
NTSB Notification Source Federal Aviation Administratio
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 8 2014 5:35PM
User who most recently changed record folm
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5157G
NTSB Number CEN13LA493
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 STORM TROOPER
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number TTS025
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 --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FEATHERS TIMOTHY S
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City CASSOPOLIS
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49031-8566
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name FEATHERS TIMOTHY S
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City CASSOPOLIS
Operator State MI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 49031-8566
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Cassopolis
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Cassopolis
Destination State MI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 8 2014 5:36PM
User who most recently changed record folm
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --