Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot intentionally performing an aerobatic maneuver while not maintaining clearance of the terrain.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
A friend and fellow-pilot of the accident pilot said that they had flown, in separate aircraft, to Caldwell, Idaho, and were returning to the friend's private grass airstrip north of Emmett, Idaho. The pilot's friend said that he landed, and then realized that he had lost contact with the accident pilot. Witnesses said they saw the accident pilot performing a loop, and subsequently impact the ground. The accident pilot's friend said that the accident pilot had an estimated 30 hours of flight experience in ultralights. He did not have a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight certificate, nor did he have a FAA ultralight exemption. The aircraft had two seats, a gross weight of 947 pounds, and a ten gallon fuel tank; therefore, it did not meet the FAR Part 103 regulation for an ultralight aircraft.
Source record
Factual narrative
On November 21, 2004, at approximately 1705 mountain standard time, a Trikes, GTE 503 SL ultralight, a non-registered aircraft, was destroyed following impact with terrain, near Emmett, Idaho. The non-licensed pilot, the sole occupant in the aircraft, was fatally injured. The flight was being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country personal flight which originated from Caldwell, Idaho, approximately 65 minutes before the accident. The pilot had not filed a flight plan. A friend and fellow-pilot of the accident pilot said that they had flown, in separate aircraft, to Caldwell, Idaho, and were returning to the friend's private grass airstrip north of Emmett, Idaho. The pilot's friend said that he landed, and then realized that he had lost contact with the accident pilot. Witnesses said they saw the accident pilot performing a loop, and subsequently impact the ground. The accident pilot's friend said that the accident pilot had an estimated 30 hours of flight experience in ultralights. He did not have a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight certificate, nor did he have a FAA ultralight exemption. The aircraft had two seats, a gross weight of 947 pounds, and a ten gallon fuel tank; therefore, it did not meet the FAR Part 103 regulation for an ultralight aircraft.