Smithwick/Treidel TUKAN accident near Prairie, Idaho, May 30, 2010
On May 30, 2010 at about 2:39 pm local time, a Smithwick/Treidel TUKAN, registered N7513W, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Prairie, Idaho (Smith Prairie airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of control of the weight-shift-controlled airplane during takeoff for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 2010 · about 2:39 pm local time
- Place
- Prairie, Idaho · Smith Prairie · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Smithwick/Treidel TUKAN
- Registration
- N7513W · no longer on the register · serial MT 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to witness accounts, the unlicensed pilot of the experimental weight-shift-controlled airplane was performing practice takeoffs and landings. During the last departure the airplane banked to the left and collided with trees. Global Positioning System (GPS) flight track data recovered from a handheld GPS device within the airplane (which did not include altitude information) indicated that this turn was flown at a rate and groundspeed comparable to the prior turns performed during the flight. The data further revealed that a few seconds after the final turn the airplane made an abrupt course reversal back to the runway; however, this sudden change of heading was more than likely a GPS anomaly. The pilot did not provide either a written or verbal statement to the NTSB and did not respond to multiple requests to make the airplane or engine available for examination.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 450 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2U0 Prairie ID at 2:16 pm
- Destination: 2U0 Prairie ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05, 5,400 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from MUO, 31 miles away
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.