Amateur-built QUICKSILVER SPT 2S accident near Lajas, Puerto Rico, November 13, 2010
On November 13, 2010 at about 9:10 pm local time, a amateur-built QUICKSILVER SPT 2S, registered N5593F, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Lajas, Puerto Rico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and entry into a spin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 13, 2010 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Lajas, Puerto Rico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built QUICKSILVER SPT 2S
- Registration
- N5593F · no longer on the register · serial SPORT 25 0048
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-certified pilot departed for a local flight and, during cruise flight, a witness reported seeing the airplane in a nose-low attitude spinning two times before impacting the ground in an open field. A postaccident inspection of the airframe revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. The engine was started without a propeller and the engine and engine systems were found to operate normally. Results of postmortem toxicology testing were consistent with the regular use of a prescription antidepressant and relatively recent use of two different prescription medications that may be used for anxiety or as sleep aids. The investigation considered the possibility that the pilot may have been impaired by the recent use of an anti-anxiety medication or by the conditions for which the medications were prescribed; however, the role of any possible impairment in the accident could not be conclusively determined.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during maneuvering defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Flight time: 44 hours in all; 44 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection, January 30, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lajas PR at 7:00 pm
- Destination: Lajas PR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from BQN, 31 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.
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.