ANC19LA004

Factual narrative

On October 7, 2018, about 1500 Alaska daylight time, an unregistered weight-shift controlled, Airborne X-series Redback "Trike" aircraft, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control and impact with terrain shortly after takeoff from Lakewood Airport (78AA), North Pole, Alaska. The student pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 visual flight rules (VFR) flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. According to the student pilot, the flight was his first flight in the unregistered trike and he had received no flight training in the aircraft prior to the accident but had downloaded and then read the aircraft's manuals. After applying full power and reaching an airspeed of about 30 knots he pushed forward on the control bar to initiate the liftoff. Shortly after liftoff the aircraft turned right, felt like it" stalled" and impacted the ground resulting in substantial damage to the carriage keel and wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he believed the trike was an ultralight aircraft. According to the trike's operating manual, the aircraft specifications exceeded the maximum takeoff weight, fuel capacity, and seat limitations stated in 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 103 for ultralight aircraft. After repeated attempts, the pilot did not submit an NTSB Pilot/Operator Accident Report form (NTSB Form 6120.1) as required. The student pilot indicated that this flight was his first in the unregistered trike, and he had no flight training in the airplane but had read the manuals. After applying full power and reaching an airspeed of about 30 knots, he pushed forward on the control bar to initiate the liftoff. He stated that, shortly after liftoff, the trike turned right, "stalled," and impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the carriage keel and wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he believed the trike was an ultralight aircraft. However, according to the trike's operating manual, the aircraft specifications exceeded the maximum takeoff weight, fuel capacity, and seat limitations stated in 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 103 for ultralight aircraft. It is likely that, given the pilot's general lack of experience and training in the airplane type, he lost control during takeoff. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• C Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Training-Total instruct/training recvd-Pilot - C