Amateur-built QUICKSILVER accident near Wingate, North Carolina, October 21, 2008
On October 21, 2008 at about 4:45 pm local time, a amateur-built QUICKSILVER, registered N184GT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Wingate, North Carolina. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to a fractured crankshaft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 21, 2008 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Wingate, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built QUICKSILVER GT-500
- Registration
- N184GT · no longer on the register · serial GT5000184
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and the student pilot just landed from a cross country instructional flight. They decided to conduct additional traffic pattern work and took off from the grass strip. During the takeoff, when the airplane was 200 feet above the ground, there was a total loss of engine power. The flight instructor elected to allow the student handle the emergency. They were not able to return to the grass strip and elected to land in a rough corn field. The airplane landed flat with the left main wheel touching first. When the nose tire touched the ground the airplane flipped over. The forward section of airframe structure, where the student pilot was seated, collapsed. An examination of the engine revealed a fractured crankshaft near the number 2 piston journal section. The airplane’s maintenance records did not provide any history on the engine.
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 engine power (total) during takeoff
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Failure
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Effect on equipment
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,800 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 320 hours in all; 20 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 313 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 29, 2008; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Hirthmotoren F-30 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1NC6 Wingate NC at 4:45 pm
- Destination: 1NC6 Wingate NC
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from EQY, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 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.