Aeros 2 accident near Blountstown, Florida, October 29, 2016
On October 29, 2016 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Aeros 2 (weight-shift aircraft), an amateur-built aircraft,, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Blountstown, Florida (Calhoun County airport). It was a personal flight 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 noncertificated pilot's decision to fly the weight-shift-controlled aircraft without having received training in the aircraft type, which resulted in his loss of aircraft control shortly after takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 29, 2016 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Blountstown, Florida · Calhoun County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeros 2, amateur-built
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial 04705
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The noncertificated pilot of the weight-shift-controlled trike reported that, during the takeoff, he was "fighting the wing." He added that the aircraft was about 30 ft above the ground when he "pulled on the control bar," the right wing rose, and the left wing dipped down. The aircraft subsequently impacted terrain in a left-wing-down attitude to the left of the runway. The center fuselage spar and wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the aircraft that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot added that the accident flight was his first flight in the unregistered trike and that he had received no flight training before the accident flight. He reported that when he purchased the weight-shift-controlled trike, the bill of sale indicated that the aircraft was an "ultralight." According to the trike's operating manual, the aircraft specifications exceeded the maximum takeoff weight, fuel capacity, and seat limitations stated in 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 103 for ultralight aircraft.
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 initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Flight time: 0.1 hours in all; 0.1 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 ULS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F95 Blountstown FL at 12:30 pm
- Destination: F95 Blountstown FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,100 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KMAI, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on May 15, 2017. 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, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation (Noncertificated Pilot) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | AEROS-2 Hks Flight Manual | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under UNREG 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.