Holmes William B AIR CREATION TWIN accident near Gila Bend, AZ
On March 17, 2024, a Holmes William B AIR CREATION TWIN was involved in an accident near Gila Bend, AZ. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- March 17, 2024
- Place
- Gila Bend, AZ
- Aircraft
- Holmes William B AIR CREATION TWIN · WSFT
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 32.960°N, 112.674°W
- NTSB ID
- 20240317193945
Official records · WPR24FA112
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn March 17, 2024, about 0942 mountain standard time, an experimental amateur-built light-sport weight-shift control Air Creation Twin, N4425L, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Gila Bend Municipal Airport (E63), Gila Bend, Arizona. The pilot sustained fatal injuries and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The aircraft was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. According to the passenger, who was seated in the front seat, he intended on purchasing the aircraft and received flight instruction from the pilot. He and the pilot had flown the weight-shift-control aircraft the day before the accident and planned a subsequent flight the next morning. Before departure, the pilot briefed the passenger that they would take off and fly in the local area, then return to the airport to practice touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. The pilot briefed that the passenger would fly the approach and that the pilot would perform the landing. After departing, they had flown around the local area for about 45 minutes to increase the passenger’s flight experience and understanding of the flight characteristics of a weight-shift control aircraft. The passenger stated that after the local flight, they returned to E63 and focused on takeoffs and landings on runway 04. During the second approach, the passenger heard the pilot state, “my airplane” and the passenger then relinquished the flight controls. The passenger reported hearing the engine spool up, stating that it “sounded strong.” The passenger recall
Probable cause
The pilot’s loss of control and subsequent collision with a mesquite tree on approach to land.
More accidents in AZ
- De Havilland DHC-6-300, Sep 27, 1989
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Browse: Arizona
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
