Airborne Windsports XT-912 N811RW

Summary

On 14 October 2012 at about 15:16 local time, a Airborne Windsports XT-912 registered N811RW, operated by Floatplanes & Amphibs, was involved in an accident near Winter Haven, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 October 2012 at 15:16

Classification

Accident

Location

Winter Haven, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Winter Haven's Gilbert Airport (GIF)

Coordinates

28.0578, -81.7519

Aircraft

Airborne Windsports XT-912

Registration

N811RW

Year built

2006

Engines

1

Operator

Floatplanes & Amphibs

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Winter Haven → Winter Haven

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA13LA020

2 people died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during takeoff in crosswind conditions, which resulted in collision with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A witness reported observing the experimental ultralight aircraft conducting touch-and-go landings before the accident. He recalled that it seemed "a bit windy" for an ultralight to be operating. He estimated that the wind was between 10 and 15 knots, but he could not judge the wind gusts. Immediately after takeoff for the accident flight, the aircraft made a hard right bank, with a bank angle of between about 60 and 90 degrees, about 100 feet above the ground. The witness reported that the aircraft's motor sounded as if it was at full power and not malfunctioning. The aircraft impacted the ground about 100 to 150 yards from where witnesses were standing. According to the Pilot's Operating Handbook, the maximum crosswind component for the airplane was 12 knots. Airport weather information indicated the wind was 080 degrees at 12 knots about 20 minutes before the accident. It is likely that the aircraft encountered crosswind conditions and that the pilot then failed to maintain aircraft control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.