Airtime CYGNET N168AT

Summary

On 21 May 2017 at about 00:30 local time, a Airtime CYGNET registered N168AT was involved in an accident near Casa Grande, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 May 2017 at 00:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Casa Grande, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Casa Grande Muni (CGZ)

Coordinates

32.9550, -111.7669

Aircraft

Airtime CYGNET

Registration

N168AT

Year built

2016

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Casa Grande → Casa Grande

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA292

2 people had minor injuries.

The flight instructor's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in gusting crosswind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor in the amphibious, float-equipped, weight-shift-controlled trike reported that he was demonstrating multiple touch-and-go landings for the student pilot, who was in the front seat of the tandem-seat trike. He added that, during the final approach, the wind was "light and variable," and the landing was "smooth and stable." He further added that, as power was applied to takeoff, a "gust of wind and dust came in from our left and got under the wing." Subsequently, the trike veered off the runway to the right and rolled over. The wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the trike that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station at the accident airport recorded that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 330° at 9 knots. The flight instructor reported the takeoff was from runway 5.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.