Trick Trikes STORM THUNDER accident near Raleigh, North Carolina, June 8, 2009
On June 8, 2009 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Trick Trikes STORM THUNDER (weight-shift aircraft), registered N2598E, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Raleigh, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control on approach for landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 2009 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Raleigh, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Trick Trikes STORM THUNDER
- Registration
- N2598E · no longer on the register · serial TTS 011
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot delayed his flight due to fog in the local area. After departing, he flew around the local area for about 1 hour and 30 minutes when the flight started to get bumpy due to thermals. He became a little disoriented, observed personnel next to their home, and circled the house several times. He decided to make an off-field landing so that he could get an address, call his wife, and recover the airplane. The pilot made an additional pass over the house, reversed course, and started an approach for landing. The pilot reported encountering an updraft about 30 to 40 feet above the ground. The nose of the airplane pitched up and the pilot secured the engine. He pushed the nose of the airplane down and the airplane then collided with the ground. The pilot stated there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. The homeowners at the accident site reported that the sky was clear, with no wind gusts and a gentle breeze.
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
- Engine shutdown during approach
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusio › Geographic disorient (lost) › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 165 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 165 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 30 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 7, 2009; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Clayton NC at 1:30 pm
- Destination: Clayton NC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from RDU
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.