Northwing APACHE SPORT accident near Brigham City, Utah, April 8, 2014
On April 8, 2014 at about 11:20 pm local time, a 2007 Northwing APACHE SPORT (weight-shift aircraft), registered N58AS, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Brigham City, Utah. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering near power lines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 2014 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Brigham City, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Northwing APACHE SPORT NO SERIES, built 2007
- Registration
- N58AS · no longer on the register · serial 581
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness located near the accident site reported observing the weight-shift-control trike flying around the area at a low altitude before hearing the engine power increase and seeing the trike ascend to avoid striking trees. The witness observed the trike continue to maneuver around the area and conduct a series of turns before he lost sight of the trike. Another witness reported seeing the trike approach two sets of power lines and then suddenly bank sharply left and descend into the ground. Postaccident examination of the recovered trike revealed no evidence of any preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 174 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 32 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 10, 2013
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Brigham City UT
- Destination: Brigham City UT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from KOGD, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.