Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

January 31, 2009 · Quicksilver MXL II Sport · UNREG

Ellenboro, NC

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 31, 2009
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Ellenboro, NC
Aircraft
Quicksilver MXL II Sport
Tail Number
UNREG
Operator
Gerald Brown
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA09LA150

The pilot had just purchased the unregistered, uncertificated, experimental, amateur-built airplane. He began taxiing it around the airport, and then taxied to Runway 14. Shortly thereafter he departed, making a hard left bank turn. He flew between two airport hangars, struck a power line, and collided with the ground. The pilot’s wife stated that he had less than 1 hour of flight time in the accident airplane. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during climbout. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of experience in the make and model of the airplane.

Full Narrative

On January 31, 2009, about 1811 eastern standard time, an unregistered, amateur-built experimental light sport aircraft, Quicksilver MXL II Sport, collided with a power line at Summey Airpark, Ellenboro, North Carolina. The certificated private pilot was killed and the airplane was substantially damaged by impact forces. The flight was operated as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot had just purchased the airplane. The inspector interviewed witnesses that reported the pilot began taxiing the airplane around the airport, and then taxied to runway 14. Shortly thereafter, he departed, making a hard left bank turn. The airplane flew between two airport hangers, struck a power line, and collided with the ground. The pilot, age 55, held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. His certificate was updated on June 12, 2008. The pilot's last medical examination was on April 19, 1996, for a third-class medical certificate with no limitations or waivers. The pilot reported 500 flight hours on his last medical application. According to the pilot’s wife, he flew approximately 60 hours within the last 90 days, and less than 1 hour in the accident airplane. The pilot's logbook was not available for review, and a determination of his total flight hours was not verified. The two-seat, high-wing, fixed gear airplane, serial number 000807, was manufactured in 2002. It was powered by a Rotax 503 DCDI 50-horsepower engine and equipped with a three-bladed Warp Drive propeller. The hour meter indicated that the airframe had approximately 263 hours. The airplane was unregistered and uncertificated at the time of the accident. There were no aircraft logbooks available for review. Examination of the airframe and flight control system by the FAA inspector revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. Examination of the fuel system revealed 10 gallons of automotive fuel remained in the fuel tank. Further examination of the fuel system revealed no water or debris in the fuel system. The airplane was equipped with a ballistic parachute system, but it was not deployed. The examination of the engine and system components by the FAA inspector revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. An autopsy was performed on the pilot on February 2, 2009, by the Office of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, North Carolina, as authorized by the coroner of Rutherford County. The cause of death was reported as “multiple blunt force injuries." Forensic toxicology was performed on specimens from the pilot by the FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The toxicology report stated no ethanol was detected in the liver or muscle, and no drugs were detected in the liver.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:11 EST
Nearest AirportSummey Airpark (0nm)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftQuicksilver MXL II Sport
Tail NumberUNREG
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorGerald Brown
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotax · 503 DCDI · Reciprocating · 50
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 55 · Third Class · Fatal

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind190° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point48 / 19 C
Altimeter30.17 inHg
Observation Time23:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data