RAPTOR N74TK accident near Bealeton, Virginia

Probable cause

An in-flight loss of control for undetermined reasons.

NTSB analysis

After takeoff the pilot performed turns in both directions before continuing in a southeast direction. Global Positioning System data recovered from the accident aircraft revealed that while flying on nearly a constant heading, the airplane decelerated 36 miles-per-hour in a 6 second period. One witness heard a sputtering sound from the engine and several observed the aircraft descending steeply before it collided with trees. Another witness thought she saw a partially deployed parachute trailing from the steeply descending aircraft, but examination of the wreckage revealed the on-board ballistic parachute deployed on tree contact, and not prior to the initial upset. A snap hook utilized to secure the nose wires to the attach point of the nose hinge was not attached at either end, and was not located; however, this did not appear to be related to the accident for neither the crossbar nor the hinge displayed compression damage consistent with the snap hook separating in flight. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for MIA08LA105 for the full record.