Airborne Windsports PTY LTD Edge X accident near Alturas, California, June 2, 2010
On June 2, 2010 at about 2:00 am local time, a Airborne Windsports PTY LTD Edge X (weight-shift aircraft), registered N354MB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Alturas, California (Alturas airport). It was a personal 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
Fracture of a mast support cable due to corrosion, which resulted in a loss of control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 2010 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Alturas, California · Alturas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airborne Windsports PTY LTD Edge X
- Registration
- N354MB · no longer on the register · serial 582-912
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certified flight instructor (CFI) and a student pilot were performing touch-and-go and full stop landings. The CFI reported that during the final landing roll at 30 miles per hour, the wing rolled severely to the left, and struck the ground. The wing crumpled, and dug into the surface rolling the airplane onto its left side. Postaccident examination revealed that the right rear mast support cable fractured about 3 inches above its lower attachment point where the cable enters a swedge. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage and confirmed the break to the cable and also noted that there appeared to be some bluish green corrosion on the copper compression swedge.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Wing structure › Attach fittings (on wing) › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: sport pilot; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,212 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 2,805 as pilot in command; 221 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 11, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 38 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 188 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 27, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 884 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AAT Alturas CA at 1:00 am
- Destination: AAT Alturas CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 4,377 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,000 ft; a few clouds at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 am from KAAT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N354MB 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.