CEN14LA091

Factual narrative

On December 17, 2013, about 1500 central standard time, an unregistered Quicksilver airplane, impacted terrain during landing at the Palestine Municipal Airport (PSN), near Palestine, Texas. The non-certificated pilot, the sole occupant on board, was seriously injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The unregistered airplane was operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight originated at time unknown. The pilot indicated in his accident report that he did not recall any firsthand details of the accident. According to witness statements given to a Texas Department of Public Safety officer, the accident pilot was attempting to land the airplane on runway 18, it stalled, and the airplane nosed down onto the runway. The airplane was not marked with a registration number and the pilot reported that he did not have a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot certificate. He indicated that he had accumulated 22 hours of flight time in the same make and model airplane as the accident airplane and accumulated 4 hours as pilot in command. An individual purchased the Quicksilver two-seat ultralight trainer from a party in 1998 and that individual subsequently sold the aircraft to the accident pilot. The accident pilot contacted the original party on November 22, 2013. The pilot indicated that he needed a brake kit and a left fuel tank. He also told the original party that the rear gearbox was leaking oil. At 1455, the recorded weather at PSN was: Wind calm, visibility 10 statute miles, sky condition clear; temperature 21 degrees C; dew point 1 degree C; altimeter 30.26 inches of mercury. An Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) article titled, "Time Is Up For E-LSA Registration," advised that the FAA hard deadline for owners of two-place or "fat" ultralights to submit their aircraft registration (N number) application for converting their aircraft to an experimental light-sport aircraft (E-LSA) was January 31, 2008. The article further, in part, stated: With the passing of Thursday's deadline, EAA warns its members to be on the lookout for what may appear to be a "really good deal" in the used two-place or "fat" ultralight/light aircraft market. If you're offered a great price on such an aircraft, make certain it has an N-number and an airworthiness certificate. Always understand what you are buying, and be aware that as the buyer, you would be "under the gun" to get it certificated. The noncertificated pilot was on a local flight in his unregistered airplane. The pilot reported that he did not recall any details of the accident. Witness reports indicated that the pilot was attempting to land the airplane on a runway, it stalled, and it then nosed down onto the runway. Calm wind prevailed at the airport about the time of the accident. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• — Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Qualification/certification-Pilot
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Airspeed-Not attained/maintained - C