North Wing Design APACHE SPORT accident near Vermillion, SD
On September 14, 2012, a North Wing Design APACHE SPORT was involved in an accident near Vermillion, SD. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 14, 2012
- Place
- Vermillion, SD
- Aircraft
- North Wing Design APACHE SPORT · WSFT
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 42.774°N, 96.948°W
- NTSB ID
- 20120915X95617
Official records · CEN12LA634
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn September 14, 2012, about 1615 central daylight time, an experimental North Wing Design model Apache Sport light sport aircraft, N850GB, was destroyed when it collided with terrain shortly after takeoff from the Harold Davidson Field Airport (VMR), Vermillion, South Dakota. A postimpact ground fire ensued. The sport pilot, who was the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The weight-shift-control aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. The cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to a private airstrip near Kimball, South Dakota. A witness to the accident reported that he was working outside his residence when he heard the weight-shift-control aircraft depart the airport. He initially heard the sound of the aircraft's engine before he spotted the aircraft climbing at a steep angle. He reported that the aircraft then rolled to the left and entered a near vertical descent. The aircraft descended below his sightline before he heard a sound similar to a ground impact and saw smoke rising-up from the same general area. Another witness reported that he was working in his garage when he heard the sound of an aircraft engine "having trouble." He looked up and saw the weight-shift-control aircraft in a steep bank angle as it descended toward the ground. He stated that the engine was making a loud noise during the descent. Another witness reported that he was
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the weight-shift-control aircraft during initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin.
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Browse: South Dakota
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
