Inexperienced Trike Pilot Apparently Gets Airborne and Loses Control

One of the less-positive aspects of the Ultralight revolution was the mistaken impression that WAY TOO MANY pilots got that they could teach themselves to fly. That was false. No matter the flying background of a new Ultralight or lightplane pilot, one needs solid expert instruction to understand the rudiments of a unique new aircraft type... and despite  this pilot's experience in conventional aircraft, his inexperience in trikes apparently cost him his life when his attempts to do some high-speed taxiing turned into actual flight... as many such attempts did. What a shame.

NTSB Identification: ERA11LA263
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, April 24, 2011 in Starke, FL
Aircraft: SOLO WINGS WINDLASS AQUILLA, registration: N94370
Injuries: 1 Fatal.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On April 24, 2011, about 1000 eastern daylight time, a Solo Wings Windlass Aquilla experimental-light sport aircraft (E-LSA), N94370, operated by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during an off-airport landing, in Starke, Florida. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight that was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, on February 17, 2011, the pilot purchased the foreign manufactured weight-shift-control aircraft, which was equipped with a Rotax 503, 50-horsepower engine.

According to an FAA inspector, the pilot's wife stated that the pilot had not previously flown the aircraft and he intended to practice high speed taxiing at their private 1,900-foot-long, grass airstrip, oriented on a west-northwest/east-southeast heading. She later discovered that the aircraft had crashed in a field adjacent to the runway.

Solo Wings Aquilla

The aircraft came to rest on its left side, near a tree line, about 500 feet north of the east one-third of the runway. The left wing, left landing gear, and cockpit were substantially damaged.

Initial examination of the airframe and engine by an FAA inspector did not reveal any mechanical abnormalities. Fuel found in the gascolator was absent of contamination. The inspector noted that the damage to the propeller was consistent with a low-power setting and the throttle control was in the full aft position.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov