Amateur-built MXLII accident near Knoxville, Pennsylvania, November 7, 2008
On November 7, 2008 at about 4:00 pm local time, a amateur-built MXLII (ultralight), registered UNREG, was destroyed in an accident during initial climb near Knoxville, Pennsylvania (Champ Field Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The reason for this occurrence was undetermined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 7, 2008 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Knoxville, Pennsylvania · Champ Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MXLII Sport
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial 1051
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The owner of the experimental Quicksilver MXL II purchased the airplane from a previous private owner. The present owner assembled the airplane independently. The pilot agreed to test fly the airplane for the owner, and the accident flight was the first flight since assembly. After a satisfactory preflight inspection, the pilot took off and climbed to about 60 or 70 feet. He then applied left rudder and left “stick” to initiate a left turn. When he attempted to roll out of the turn, the airplane did not respond, and the left bank continued to increase. The pilot applied right spoiler, and shifted his weight by leaning-over into the right seat. The airplane impacted the ground in a nose low, left bank, resulting in substantial damage. Winds were reported light and variable in the area at the time of the accident. Examination of the wreckage was inconclusive.
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 initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 800 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 14, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 720 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6PS3 Champ Field Air PA at 4:00 pm
- Destination: 6PS3 Champ Field Air PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,200 ft; a few clouds at 700 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from ELM, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 UNREG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.