Quicksilver Enterprises Inc MXL II accident near Petaluma, CA
On April 3, 2015, a Quicksilver Enterprises Inc MXL II (airplane) was involved in an accident near Petaluma, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 3, 2015
- Place
- Petaluma, CA
- Aircraft
- Quicksilver Enterprises Inc MXL II · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.240°N, 122.578°W
- NTSB ID
- 20150403X34847
Official records · WPR15FA140
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn April 3, 2015, about 1230 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur built Quicksilver Enterprises Inc. MXL II, N476VB, was destroyed when it impacted terrain near the Petaluma Municipal Airport (O69), Petaluma, California. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The student pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The local flight originated from O69 at an unknown time. One witness, who was located on the first tee at the Adobe Creek Golf Course, reported that they observed the accident airplane flying over their position about 1,000 feet above ground level (agl). He thought it was too windy for a small airplane to be flying as he estimated the wind was from the north, about 15 to 20 miles per hour (mph). A short time later, the witness had moved to the second tee, when he saw the accident airplane pointed directly into the wind along a northerly heading toward O69. The witness recalled that it "did not seem to making headway," and appeared to remain in the same position relative to the ground until about 20 seconds later, when the airplane entered a slow left 180-degree turn. The witness heard the sound of the engine increase as he stopped watching the airplane for a few seconds. Shortly after, he heard the engine noise stop and looked up, observing the airplane "falling straight [down] out of the sky" with both wings appearing upward, as if they ha
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and structural failure. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment from his use of diphenhydramine.
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
