Main Air RAPIER accident near Reidsville, North Carolina, August 2, 2015
On August 2, 2015 at about 7:20 pm local time, a 2002 Main Air RAPIER (weight-shift aircraft), registered N5142U, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Reidsville, North Carolina (Rockingham County Nc Shiloh airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot landed with variable wind conditions, which resulted in an in-flight loss of control and subsequent impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 2015 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Reidsville, North Carolina · Rockingham County Nc Shiloh · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Main Air RAPIER NO SERIES, built 2002
- Registration
- N5142U · no longer on the register · serial 0101
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that the weight-shift control aircraft crossed the runway threshold at 20 feet above the ground, the aircraft drifted to the right. The student pilot "raised the right wing tip, to correct up"; a "large gust" of wind lifted the right wing upward and turned the aircraft sideways. The aircraft impacted the ground, left main landing gear first. His foot "got stuck" in the foot actuated throttle, full throttle position, the aircraft impacted terrain on the edge of the adjacent taxi way. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The weight-shift-control aircraft sustained substantial damage to the wing.
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 (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
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 › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Contributed to outcome
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 45 hours in all; 25 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 1, 2013; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 DCDI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8A7 Mocksville NC at 6:00 pm
- Destination: SIF Reidsville NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 5,199 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 pm from KSIF
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.