Quicksilver MXL II accident near Barceloneta, Puerto Rico, August 30, 2008
On August 30, 2008 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Quicksilver MXL II, registered N594TC, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Barceloneta, Puerto Rico (Private Airstrip airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during an aborted landing. Contributing to the accident were the high winds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 30, 2008 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Barceloneta, Puerto Rico · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Quicksilver MXL II · all MXL IIs on the register
- Registration
- N594TC · registry record · serial 5690
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While landing on an unapproved grass strip, the student pilot of the amateur-built experimental light sport aircraft "bounced" and decided to abort the landing. As he applied power to the engine, the airplane encountered a wind gust, banked sharply right, and lost altitude. During the aborted landing, the airplane continued to turn to the right in a steep bank. After completing a full 180-degree turn, the airplane descended and impacted a fence pole, substantially damaging the right wing. The reported wind, at an airport located approximately 28 miles southwest of the accident site, about the time of the accident was from 250 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 19 knots.
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 approach (VFR go-around)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › High wind › Effect on operation
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 10 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 720 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503DCSI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Barceloneta PR at 3:00 pm
- Destination: NONE Barceloneta PR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 15 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from TJBQ, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N594TC the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC08CA300.