Airborne Edge-X accident near Coral Gables, Florida, July 4, 2023
On July 4, 2023 at about 1:15 pm local time, a 2004 Airborne Edge-X (weight-shift aircraft), an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N147JL, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Coral Gables, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 2023 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Coral Gables, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airborne Edge-X, built 2004, amateur-built · all Edge-Xs on the register
- Registration
- N147JL · registry record · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After performing a preflight inspection of the weight-shift-control aircraft, the pilot departed on a personal flight. After 30 minutes of flying, the engine began to surge. The pilot attempted to regain full engine power; however, the engine continued surging, and the pilot chose to conduct a forced landing to a golf course. During the landing, the aircraft touched down in a grass area, continued into a rocky area, and came to rest inverted in a pond, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. Postaccident examination of the two-stroke engine found water throughout the engine, likely from being submerged in the pond. No mechanical anomalies were noted with the engine that would have precluded normal operation; however, a white clay and white powder substance was noted throughout the fuel system. It is possible that the substance partially occluded the fuel lines, which resulted in the engine surging; however, it could not be determined when the contamination occurred; therefore, the reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be 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
- Unknown or undetermined during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot, student
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 384 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 384 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 534 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 4, 2023; 35 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 DCDI (piston); 534 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 am from TMB, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KTMB 041253Z A3006 RMK AO2 SLP180 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on June 26, 2024. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Engine Maintenance Log Excerpts | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA23LA283.