Airborne Windsports Edge X accident near Ocala, Florida, February 2, 2019
On February 2, 2019 at about 9:25 pm local time, a 2004 Airborne Windsports Edge X (weight-shift aircraft), registered N123NY, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Ocala, Florida (Jumbolair airport). 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 noncertificated pilot's exceedance of the aircraft's critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 2, 2019 · about 9:25 pm local time
- Place
- Ocala, Florida · Jumbolair · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airborne Windsports Edge X, built 2004
- Registration
- N123NY · no longer on the register · serial 582-914
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The noncertificated pilot, who had been receiving flight instruction from another noncertificated pilot, was performing his first solo flight in the weight-shift control experimental light-sport aircraft. After departure, the aircraft climbed to about 100 ft above ground level, veered side to side, dropped nose down, and impacted terrain. A witness to the accident flight stated the engine ran smoothly throughout the flight. Thus, it is likely that the aircraft exceeded its critical angle of attack during initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at an altitude too low to recover. Toxicology testing found that diphenhydramine and topiramate, both of which are potentially impairing drugs, were present in the pilot's specimens at levels that were too low to be quantified; thus, it is unlikely that the pilot's use of these medications contributed to the accident.
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 initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot
Pilot
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 164 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, December 1, 2018
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 17FL Ocala FL at 9:23 pm
- Destination: 17FL Ocala FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 7,550 ft by 210 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,800 ft; scat at 900 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 9:29 pm from KOCF, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on April 29, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memorandum for Record – Friend of Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record – FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Maintenance Records Excerpt | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.