Gt Ultralights Airborne Edge X accident near Franklin, ME
On August 5, 2008, a Gt Ultralights Airborne Edge X was involved in an accident near Franklin, ME. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- August 5, 2008
- Place
- Franklin, ME
- Aircraft
- Gt Ultralights Airborne Edge X · WSFT
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 44.578°N, 68.217°W
- NTSB ID
- 20080826X01312
Official records · MIA08LA161
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Reports from Federal Agencies: Communication from the Federal Aviation Administration.: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY On August 5, 2008, about 1925 eastern daylight time, an unregistered, experimental light sport aircraft (E-LSA), GT Ultralight, Airborne Edge X Trike, incurred substantial damage when it crashed into the waters of the Taunton Bay near Franklin, Maine. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The weight-shift trike was owned and operated by the pilot, under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a local personal flight. The pilot was killed and the passenger received serious injuries. The flight originated from a private airstrip earlier that day, at an unspecified time. A friend of the pilot, and witness to the accident, stated to a Maine State Police representative that the trike was observed flying over the bay, which was not uncommon. The pilot completed a circle, at the same time, the trike dipped toward the surface of the bay. The witness added that the maneuver was how the pilot would say “Hi” to the locals in the area. While performing the maneuver, a part of the trike made contact with the water and crashed. The witness added that the pilot often performed the same maneuver, which included banking low above the surface of the water. Witnesses rushed to the submerged trike and managed to rescue the trapped passenger and the pilot from the underwater wreckage; they both were in their seats with their respective seat belts attached. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 52, did not hold a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot license or a medical certificate. The pilot’s flight logbook was not pro
Probable cause
The pilot's improper decision to perform low-altitude maneuvers and his failure to maintain clearance from the surface of the bay. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment due to alcohol.
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Browse: Maine
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
