Aerotrike SAFARI accident near Littlefield, Texas, April 9, 2014
On April 9, 2014 at about 1:30 pm local time, a 2001 Aerotrike SAFARI (weight-shift aircraft), registered N678TW, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Littlefield, Texas (Littlefield Taylor Brown Muni). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The non-certificated pilot's in-flight loss of control for reasons that could not be determined from the available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 9, 2014 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Littlefield, Texas · Littlefield Taylor Brown Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerotrike SAFARI, built 2001 · all SAFARIs on the register
- Registration
- N678TW · no longer on the register · serial TWAEROTRIKE2000
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airport manager found the accident aircraft shortly after he arrived at the airport the morning of the accident. He did not observe any portion of the accident flight and was uncertain of the exact time of the accident. A postaccident examination of the aircraft did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a preimpact failure or malfunction. The pilot of the accident aircraft did not hold any Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot, mechanic, or repairman certificates, nor had he ever applied for or been issued an FAA medical certificate. An acquaintance of the pilot, who had also flown the aircraft, noted that the weight-shift-control trike was more difficult to fly than he had expected. He reportedly told the pilot that he should not fly the aircraft. He also noted that the pilot had not received any flight training in the make/model of the accident aircraft; however, the pilot reportedly informed him that he was planning to obtain flight instruction. The investigation obtained no record of the pilot's flight experience or of the aircraft's maintenance history. The pilot exhibited localized scarring of the heart muscle that was likely not recent based on the absence of inflammation; the enlarged heart was consistent with chronic high blood pressure. The effect that either of these conditions might have had on the pilot during the accident flight, if any, could not be determined. The extent of coronary artery disease was mild and likely not an issue in the accident. Cyclobenzaprine, which was present in the operator's blood and is commonly used to treat muscle spasms, can cause sedation; however, accident risk with chronic use of the medication has not been well studied. As a result, the investigation could not determine whether this medication was impairing at the time of the accident. Metoprolol, detected in the pilot's blood and commonly used to treat high blood pressure, angina, or heart arrhythmias, rarely produces significant cognitive impairment and was likely not a factor in the accident. The presence of hydrocodone and its metabolites in urine samples, although not at reportable levels in blood samples, suggested a distant use of the medication and no ongoing impairment.
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
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot
Pilot
- Flight time: 1 hours in all; 1 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 DCDI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LIU Littlefield TX at 1:30 pm
- Destination: LIU Littlefield TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 4,021 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 30,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from LBB, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 CEN14LA192.