Northwing Design APACHE SPORT accident near Southern Shores, NC
On September 21, 2022, a Northwing Design APACHE SPORT was involved in an accident near Southern Shores, NC. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- September 21, 2022
- Place
- Southern Shores, NC
- Aircraft
- Northwing Design APACHE SPORT · WSFT
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 36.122°N, 75.716°W
- NTSB ID
- 20220923105987
Official records · ERA22LA427
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn September 21, 2022, about 1000 eastern daylight time, a Northwing Design WSC aircraft, N3283N, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Southern Shores, North Carolina. The private pilot was fatally injured and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The aircraft was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The passenger stated that after arrival at the airport, he read the checklist while his stepfather (the pilot) assembled the aircraft. He followed behind his stepfather and checked everything again. The flight departed between 0830 and 0900 from First Flight Airport, Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, and flew north along the coast. After flying north about 21 nautical miles, the pilot twice orbited a house, then proceeded south just offshore to return to the departure airport. While enroute, the pilot mentioned that the flight might encounter turbulence; about 5 minutes later, while flying about 400 yards offshore at 3,500 ft mean sea level between 55 and 60 mph, with a “little patch of clouds, very small” below them, it felt like “something punched the plane” consistent with turbulence. He reported that after the turbulence encounter, he noted 8 ribs sticking out 3 to 4 inches beyond the aft end of the right side wing. He also stated that the fabric on right side wing “did not appear tight,” adding that the right side of the wing was much smaller than the left side of the wing. He felt an upward jar, then the aircraft was out of control. It started spiraling to the right, and while descendi
Probable cause
A loss of aircraft control due to movement of the outer portion of the right wing fabric and displacement of wing ribs for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
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Browse: North Carolina
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
