NTSB CAROL · Event
Event CEN20CA217
Registry · N88ZT
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
AIRBORNE 912 XT
Year of manufacture
2003 · 17 years old at event
Engine
ROTAX 912UL SERIES (80 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20100129
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AC1DCD
Registrant of record
LEFFELMAN JOSEPH L
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The pilot's incorrect flight control input during the landing flare, which resulted in an impact with the ground.
Factual narrative
The experienced fixed-wing pilot, who had 16 flight hours in weight-shift-control aircraft, stated he was conducting touch-and-go landings during his first solo flight in the weight-shift aircraft when a sink rate developed in the landing flare. He said negative inference occurred from his fixed wing experience and he pulled back on the control tube instead of pushing forward. The aircraft nosed into the runway, substantially damaging both wing spars. The pilot stated there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft prior to the accident. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12
NTSB Findings
Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).
- — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Pitch control-Incorrect use/operation
- — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2020_CEN20CA217.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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