Airtime Aircraft INC CYGNET accident near Casa Grande, Arizona, May 21, 2017
On May 21, 2017, a 2016 Airtime Aircraft INC CYGNET (weight-shift aircraft), registered N168AT, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Casa Grande, Arizona (Casa Grande Muni airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in gusting crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 2017
- Place
- Casa Grande, Arizona · Casa Grande Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airtime Aircraft INC CYGNET NO SERIES, built 2016 · all CYGNETs on the register
- Registration
- N168AT · registry record · serial 00107
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor in the amphibious, float-equipped, weight-shift-controlled trike reported that he was demonstrating multiple touch-and-go landings for the student pilot, who was in the front seat of the tandem-seat trike. He added that, during the final approach, the wind was "light and variable," and the landing was "smooth and stable." He further added that, as power was applied to takeoff, a "gust of wind and dust came in from our left and got under the wing." Subsequently, the trike veered off the runway to the right and rolled over. The wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the trike that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station at the accident airport recorded that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 330° at 9 knots. The flight instructor reported the takeoff was from runway 5.
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
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, private, sport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: gyroplane; instructor: helicopter; instructor: sport pilot; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: gyroplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,050 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 205 in the last 90 days; 49 in the last 30 days; 6,380 as pilot in command; 240 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 10 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 35 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CGZ Casa Grande AZ at 11:45 pm
- Destination: CGZ Casa Grande AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 5,200 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.