Pegasus Aviation Quantum accident near West Terre Haute, Indiana, October 10, 2008
On October 10, 2008 at about 5:21 pm local time, a Pegasus Aviation Quantum (weight-shift aircraft), an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N5125A, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near West Terre Haute, Indiana (Private Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for the crosswind during the go-around. Contributing to the accident was the crosswind condition and the trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 10, 2008 · about 5:21 pm local time
- Place
- West Terre Haute, Indiana · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pegasus Aviation Quantum, amateur-built
- Registration
- N5125A · no longer on the register · serial 7735
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experimental weight-shift-control aircraft was attempting to land on a north/south private grass airstrip when the accident occurred. The pilot reported that the winds were from the east at 10-15 knots. A nearby weather station recorded the wind to be from the southeast at 10 knots. The crosswind limitation for the airplane was 10 mph (9 knots), according to the aircraft operation manual. The pilot initially attempted a low pass over the runway heading south, but was unable to compensate for the crosswind and the airplane drifted to the right. He elected to perform a go-around and attempt a landing to the north. During the subsequent approach, he was unable to maintain runway heading again and elected to go-around. During the go-around the airplane drifted into trees off the side of the runway.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during landing
- Loss of control in flight during landing defining event
- Collision during takeoff/land during approach (VFR go-around)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Flight time: 557 hours in all; 557 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 10, 2008
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 231 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 9, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K1I3 Bloomfield IN at 5:00 pm
- Destination: PVT West Terre Haut IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,200 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KHUF, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.