Event ERA15CA031

Factual narrative

According to the pilot of the weight shift aircraft, the flight was his first solo flight and he had flown earlier in the day with a flight instructor. Shortly after takeoff the aircraft encountered a wind shift and turbulent air. After several unsuccessful landing attempts, the pilot flew south of the airport and entered a two-mile final for the runway. During the final approach leg, about 50 feet above ground level, the aircraft encountered "violent turbulence." The pilot subsequently lost control of the aircraft and impacted a lake short of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft wing and structural tubing. He further reported that due to the absence of a rear seat passenger the position of the control bar was different than what he was used to. He also reported that there were no mechanical abnormalities or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The wind recorded at an airport 10 miles to the west, around the time of the accident, was from 300 degrees at 4 knots. According to the pilot of the weight shift aircraft, the flight was his first solo flight and he had flown earlier in the day with a flight instructor. Shortly after takeoff the aircraft encountered a wind shift and turbulent air. After several unsuccessful landing attempts, the pilot flew south of the airport and entered a two-mile final for the runway. During the final approach leg, about 50 feet above ground level, the aircraft encountered "violent turbulence." The pilot subsequently lost control of the aircraft and impacted a lake short of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft wing and structural tubing. He further reported that due to the absence of a rear seat passenger the position of the control bar was different than what he was used to. He also reported that there were no mechanical abnormalities or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The wind recorded at an airport 10 miles to the west, around the time of the accident, was from 300 degrees at 4 knots. 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).

• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-(general)-Capability exceeded - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• F Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Total experience w/ equipment-Pilot - F
• F Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Turbulence-(general)-Effect on operation - F