Airborne WINDSPORT EDGE N55857

Summary

On 23 June 2010 at about 17:45 local time, a Airborne WINDSPORT EDGE registered N55857, operated by Wenzel Jonathon, was involved in an accident near Ft. Lupton, Colorado, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 June 2010 at 17:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Ft. Lupton, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

40.8458, -104.8125

Aircraft

Airborne WINDSPORT EDGE

Registration

N55857

Engines

1

Operator

Wenzel Jonathon

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ft. Lupton → Ft. Lupton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN10LA339

1 person died.

The pilot intentionally performed prohibited aerobatic maneuvers that damaged the carriage wing attachment hang point and collapsed the wing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

A witness observed the weight-shift aircraft performing aerobatic maneuvers, notably “loops and wingovers,” for about five minutes. The witness stated that during the last maneuver the pilot, who was not certificated, performed what looked like a wingover. The aircraft was at about 1,000 feet above ground level when the wing folded and the aircraft spiraled down, impacting the ground. A postcrash examination of the aircraft at the accident scene showed that the carriage wing attachment hang point was broken. The fracture was consistent with a failure prior to impact. No other anomalies with the aircraft were found. The aircraft’s operating instructions stated that all aerobatic maneuvers including spinning are prohibited.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.