Evolution Trikes REVO accident near Hawthorne, California, August 21, 2018
On August 21, 2018 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 2010 Evolution Trikes REVO (weight-shift aircraft), registered N145PT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Hawthorne, California (Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor’s failure to maintain lateral control of the weight-shift-controlled aircraft during the landing flare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 2018 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hawthorne, California · Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Evolution Trikes REVO, built 2010 · all REVOs on the register
- Registration
- N145PT · no longer on the register · serial 000557
- 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 weight-shift-controlled aircraft reported that, during a demonstration flight, during the landing flare, he observed the wind sock shift 90°, and he felt a violent wind gust from the left that lifted the left wing. He attempted to lower the left wing, but the right wing impacted the ground, and the aircraft cartwheeled before coming to rest. The flight instructor reported that, after the accident, an airport worker reported to him that he had been caught in a "dust devil." The weight-shift-controlled aircraft sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the weight-shift-controlled aircraft that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 13 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 230° at 8 knots. The weight-shift-controlled aircraft landed on runway 25.
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 landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, sport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: sport pilot; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,550 hours in all; 340 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 3,057 as pilot in command; 1,360 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 5, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,060 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 20 hours total
- Operator: Pacific Blue Air, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: HHR Hawthorne CA at 6:45 pm
- Destination: HHR Hawthorne CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 25, 4,884 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,900 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 7:43 pm from KHHR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.