Sebring Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sebring, Florida 33870
Saturday, October 18, 2014 15:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the instructor pilot, he was beginning a local, instructional flight with a student in his weight-shift-control airplane. During the initial climb, the weight-shift capability of the wing became inadvertently restricted by the student, who was seated in the front seat. Due to the tandem seating arrangement, the instructor was unable to get the student's attention to release control. The student was "younger and stronger" than the instructor. The airplane rolled and impacted hard on the grassy area adjacent to the runway. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that substantial damage resulted to the airframe's tubular structure and the wing. The instructor pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane at the time of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot's inadvertent interference with the weight-shift capability of the airplane during the initial climb, resulting in a loss of airplane control and hard landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/18/2014
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1515
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Sebring
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33870
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 272723N
Event Location Longitude 0812033W
Event Location Airport Sebring Regional
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SEF
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 62
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1500 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID SEF
Elevation of weather observation facility 62
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
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) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.94
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 33526
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2014 4:14PM
User who most recently changed record gots
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N29ME
NTSB Number ERA15CA020
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 AIRBORNE WINDSPORTS PTY LTD
Aircraft Model EDGE XT 912 L
Aircraft Series Identifier NO SERIES
Aircraft Serial Number XT-912-0334
Certified Max Gross Weight 992
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 Jan 27 2014 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 55
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FPNA LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 458
Aircraft Owner City PALM HARBOR
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 346820458
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Michael J. Hano
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Lakeland
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 33813
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code SEF
Departure City Sebring
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1515
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code SEF
Destination City Sebring
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2014 4:14PM
User who most recently changed record gots
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 01
Runway Length 5234
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --