Quicksilver MXL II accident near Cleveland, Georgia, September 6, 2008
On September 6, 2008, a Quicksilver MXL II, registered N6152N, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Cleveland, Georgia (Mountain Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper approach to the runway resulting in his being unable to flare prior to a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 2008
- Place
- Cleveland, Georgia · Mountain Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Quicksilver MXL II Sport · all MXL IIs on the register
- Registration
- N6152N · no longer on the register · serial 240
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-certificated pilot and his passenger took off from the turf strip in the experimental light sport Quicksilver MXL II, and flew for a short time before returning for a landing. The airplane touched down normally, and the pilot intentionally lifted off again. The pilot climbed to an altitude of approximately 50 feet above the runway, where he pitched the nose down to land again. The airplane attitude and flight path was "too steep to flare," and the pilot was unable to prevent the airplane from impacting the runway, which resulted in substantial airplane damage. The tubular frame of the airplane was fractured and bent in multiple locations. The pilot, seated in the left seat, was uninjured. His passenger, seated in the right seat, incurred serious injuries. The winds were calm, and daylight conditions existed at the time of the accident. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems on the accident flight.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Flight time: 400 hours in all; 400 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 40 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, October 7, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 720 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0GE5 Cleveland GA at 11:30 pm
- Destination: 0GE5 Cleveland GA
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 36, 2,500 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from PDK, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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 NYC08CA304.