Rainbow Aircraft Pty Ltd COBRA N78DK accident near Camden, South Carolina

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during the approach to land.

NTSB analysis

The pilot/owner of the experimental weight-shift airplane said he confirmed that the wind was calm before taking off for a flight around the traffic pattern. He said the airplane encountered updrafts and downdrafts on the downwind and base legs of the traffic pattern, and he could not control the altitude of the airplane with either control or power inputs. The pilot said that when he was on final approach, about 400 feet above ground level, he "saw the airplane nose going down at a 45-degree angle and then the hit." The airplane’s fuselage was substantially damaged. The wind speed reported at the airport at the time of the accident was 3 knots. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with his airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA13CA161 for the full record.