CORAM, MT, USA
UNREG
Quicksilver Aircraft MX II A-HP
According to the pilot, he assembled his aircraft and took off from a gravel pit in order to do some sightseeing in the local area. Upon returning to the gravel pit, an individual who weighed about 100 pounds asked if he would take them for a ride. After this passenger boarded the aircraft, the pilot again took off from the gravel pit. But, according to the pilot, just after lifting off, a sudden wind came up, resulting in a downdraft to be generated in the area where he would be climbing over some trees. When he reached the trees, the aircraft's gear contacted the tree tops and it began to slow. As it slowed, the right wing hit a tree trunk, causing the aircraft to rotate to the right and fall to the ground.
On July 20, 1999, approximately 1300 mountain daylight time, an unregistered Quicksilver MX II A-HP impacted trees during takeoff from a gravel pit near Coram, Montana. The non-rated pilot received minor injuries, his passenger was uninjured, and the aircraft, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to the pilot, he brought the MX-II to Coram by automobile in order to do some aerial sightseeing in the local area. After arriving there, he looked for a place from which he could takeoff. After selecting the gravel pit, he assembled the aircraft, took off, and flew around the valley with only himself onboard. After landing, an individual who weighed about 100 pounds asked if they could have a ride. That person boarded the aircraft, and the pilot attempted a second takeoff from the same location. Although the takeoff roll was longer, the aircraft lifted off at a point where the pilot felt he would safely be able to clear the trees near the end of the pit. But, according to the pilot, just after lifting off a sudden wind came up, resulting in a downdraft in the area where he would be climbing over the trees. When he reached the trees, the aircraft's landing gear contacted the tree tops and it began to slow. As it slowed, the right wing hit a tree trunk, causing the aircraft to rotate to the right and fall to the ground. Although the pilot had taken flight instruction in ultralight vehicles, he did not possess the Ultralight Instructor Certificate that would have allowed him to give instruction in a two-place ultralight.
The non-rated pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while taking off from a gravel pit. Factors include a downdraft.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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