Sabre Tukan accident near Mohawk, TN
On October 12, 2008, a Sabre Tukan was involved in an accident near Mohawk, TN. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- October 12, 2008
- Place
- Mohawk, TN
- Aircraft
- Sabre Tukan · WSFT
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 36.173°N, 83.164°W
- NTSB ID
- 20081012X64934
Official records · ERA09LA013
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On October 12, 2008, at 0806 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Sabre Tukan weight-shift light sport aircraft, N75604, was substantially damaged following an uncontrolled descent after takeoff from Cooper Field (private), Mohawk, Tennessee. The non-certificated pilot/owner was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight that was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Local law enforcement responded to the scene, and interviewed several witnesses, as well as members of the pilot’s family. Witnesses reported there was a strong, gusting wind from the east, but the pilot elected to takeoff to the west. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft dragged the left wing on the turf runway, and nearly collided with a camper. The aircraft climbed between 100 and 150 feet above ground level, and made a “hard left turn” before it entered a nose-down descent and impacted terrain. Witnesses described the engine sound as “wide open” throughout the takeoff and accident sequence. According to the police officer-in-charge at the scene, an interview with the pilot’s wife revealed that the aircraft was a recent purchase by the pilot, and that he had arranged to meet a flight instructor at Cooper Field on the morning of the accident. The instructor never arrived, and the pilot elected to take his first flight in the aircraft solo, and without prior instruction. The pilot’s wife later confirmed these circumstances in a written statement. According to the Federal Aviation Ad
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of control in flight due to a lack of flight experience or instruction. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment due to the recent use of marijuana and a prescription painkiller.
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Browse: Tennessee
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
