Amateur-built APEX CROSS-5 accident near Lago Vista, Texas, February 11, 2011
On February 11, 2011 at about 7:30 pm local time, a amateur-built APEX CROSS-5 (weight-shift aircraft), registered N751EW, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Lago Vista, Texas (Rusty Allen Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The simultaneous loss of engine and electrical power after takeoff for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 11, 2011 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lago Vista, Texas · Rusty Allen Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built APEX CROSS-5
- Registration
- N751EW · registry record · serial 1001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot recently purchased the aircraft, and the accident flight was intended to be an orientation flight around the traffic pattern followed by a landing. Shortly after departure, the aircraft experienced a simultaneous loss of engine and electrical power. During the forced landing, the aircraft settled into the tops of trees, resulting in substantial damage. A postaccident examination revealed that a fuse was blown which was believed to be associated with the electronic ignition circuit; however, the pilot did not have a schematic for the airplane so this could not be confirmed. The examination of the remaining systems revealed no anomalies. Investigators were unable to determine the reason for the simultaneous loss of engine and electrical power after takeoff.
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
- Electrical system malf/failure during initial climb
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, sport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 240 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 5,000 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 7, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 108 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 20, 2010
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Compact Ra MZ202; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KRYW Lago Vista TX at 7:30 pm
- Destination: KRYW Lago Vista TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 7:49 pm from KGTU, 18 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.
Other NTSB records under N751EW the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN11LA186.