Air Trikes Tourist accident near Middlebury, Vermont, September 20, 2006
On September 20, 2006 at about 11:34 pm local time, a Air Trikes Tourist, registered UNREG, was destroyed in an accident near Middlebury, Vermont. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of control for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 20, 2006 · about 11:34 pm local time
- Place
- Middlebury, Vermont · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Trikes Tourist
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial 2
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two witnesses observed the unregistered weight-shift control aircraft as it maneuvered. While maneuvering, the aircraft was "flying up to high altitudes and cutting the engine." The aircraft would glide to a lower altitude before restarting the engine and repeating the process. The aircraft also performed several steep bank turns at a "lower than normal" altitude. Just before the accident, one witness observed the aircraft "doing all sorts of crazy maneuvers." Moments later the aircraft began "spinning" or "corkscrewing" to the left, as descended vertically to the ground. The aircraft disappeared from view behind a tree line, but "at the last second" the engine briefly increased power, followed by silence. Examination of the accident scene revealed signatures consistent with a near-vertical descent and a postimpact fire. Examination of the wreckage revealed signatures consistent with overstress separation.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Geo G13BB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Middlebury VT
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 pm from MPV, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.