North Wing Apache Sport accident near Polson, MT
On June 7, 2014, a North Wing Apache Sport (airplane) was involved in an accident near Polson, MT. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 7, 2014
- Place
- Polson, MT
- Aircraft
- North Wing Apache Sport · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 47.696°N, 114.177°W
- NTSB ID
- 20140607X02802
Official records · WPR14LA233
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn June 7, 2014, about 0700 mountain daylight time, an experimental light sport North Wing Apache Sport, N2804P, collided with terrain following takeoff from Polson Airport, Polson, Montana. The weight-shift-control trike was registered to a private party and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft was destroyed during the accident sequence. The local flight departed Polson about 0658. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The owner of the trike stated that it was originally equipped with a Mustang III 19 meter wing, which he had determined was larger than needed. Therefore, he ordered a 15-meter wing, which was scheduled to arrive in 8 weeks. The accident pilot owned a similarly equipped trike with floats, and asked the owner if he could use the 19-meter wing, and in the interim give him his 16-meter wing to use while he waited for the 15-meter wing to arrive. The owner agreed, and the day before the accident, the pilot flew the trike for about 20 to 30 minutes with the original 19-meter wing installed. Later that night, after dinner, they both spent the evening in the hangar assembling and attaching the 16-meter wing, completing the installation by 2300. They reviewed the installation, and the pilot said he would test fly the trike in the morning, cautiously takeoff, and fly low over the runway while ascertaining the handling characteristics. If it could be controlled safely, he would then continue the climb and p
Probable cause
The pilot’s loss of airplane control during initial climb due to his experiencing an incapacitating medical event.
More accidents in MT
- Pilatus PC-12/45, Mar 22, 2009
- Beech D18S, Jul 5, 1987
- Cessna 550, Dec 18, 1992
- Beech V35B, Jun 24, 1982
- Cessna 182C, May 12, 2007
Browse: Montana
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
