Lidster Wittman Tailwind W-8 accident near Mesquite, TX
On June 23, 2002, a Lidster Wittman Tailwind W-8 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Mesquite, TX. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 23, 2002
- Place
- Mesquite, TX
- Aircraft
- Lidster Wittman Tailwind W-8 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 32.747°N, 96.531°W
- NTSB ID
- 20020625X00963
Official records · FTW02LA187
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On June 23, 2002, approximately 1730 central daylight time, a Lidster Wittman Tailwind W-8, experimental amateur-built airplane, N14VK, was destroyed following an in-flight separation of the left wing during cruise flight near Mesquite, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by the builder/pilot under Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the local flight. The personal flight departed the Mesquite Metro Airport at an unknown time. Local authorities and the FAA inspector, who responded to the site, found the airplane resting nose down on the ground at the base of 30-foot trees. The engine was found in a crater near the main wreckage. The outboard 2 feet of the left wing and the left wing spar were found approximately 300 yards from the main wreckage. The outboard portion of the left wing and spar were forwarded to the NTSB Materials Laboratory for examination. On May 12, 1987, the pilot was issued the FAA Private Pilot Certificate with the airplane single-engine land rating. The most recent third class medical certificate was issued to the pilot on October 25, 2000, with the limitation "Must have available glasses for near vision." On the medical application form, the pilot's accumulated flight time was reported as 1,875 hours. A review of the FAA records revealed that in 1995, the pilot purchased the plans for building the airplane. On December 2, 1999, the FAA Registration Certificate for the Lidster Wittman Tailwind W-8 airplane N14VK, serial numbe
Probable cause
The in-flight separation of the outboard portion of the left wing due to the failure of the wing spar resulting from the builder's improper installation of a wing that did not meet the drawing specifications.
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Browse: Texas
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
