Probable cause
The flight instructor's failure to maintain control of the airplane following an in-flight encounter with turbulence during descent.
NTSB analysis
The pilot of the light sport weight-shift-control airplane said that they were descending through a "hole in the clouds" when the aircraft encountered severe turbulence, resulting in the flight instructor losing control of the aircraft. The flight instructor subsequently deployed the aircraft's onboard rocket-propelled parachute system before impacting mountainous terrain and coming to rest on a hillside, entangled in surrounding trees. The flight instructor reported no anomalies with the airplane prior to or during the flight.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR09LA386 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 2, 2009
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Lihue, Hawaii
- Highest injury
- Serious
- Serious injuries
- 2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Airborne Windsports Pty Ltd XT-912-L
- N-number
- N44VZ
- Category
- Weight-shift
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.