Fly Hard Trike INC SKYCYCLE STING RAY accident near Gulfport, Mississippi, September 21, 2012
On September 21, 2012 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Fly Hard Trike INC SKYCYCLE STING RAY (weight-shift aircraft), registered N86862, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Gulfport, Mississippi (Gulfport/Biloxi International airport). It was a flight test 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 after an unexpected wind gust/turbulence encounter during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 2012 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Gulfport, Mississippi · Gulfport/Biloxi International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fly Hard Trike INC SKYCYCLE STING RAY
- Registration
- N86862 · no longer on the register · serial T10247
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the experimental weight-shift control aircraft stated that he was returning to the departure airport after an uneventful 90-minute test flight. During the landing approach, the aircraft encountered a gust of wind, then "violently" pitched up, rolled to the right, nosed over, and impacted the ground. Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the wings and nose. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal aircraft operation. The pilot stated that he believed that this was a “freak” accident caused by unanticipated turbulence over the runway at the time of touchdown.
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 landing defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Ability to respond/compensate
- 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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 842 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 684 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 9, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 3, 2011; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 992 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 DCDI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GPT Gulfport MS at 1:40 pm
- Destination: GPT Gulfport MS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,935 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 3:04 pm from GPT
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.
Other NTSB records under N86862 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.