TUKAN N7513W accident near Prairie, Idaho

Probable cause

The pilot's loss of control of the weight-shift-controlled airplane during takeoff for undetermined reasons.

NTSB analysis

According to witness accounts, the unlicensed pilot of the experimental weight-shift-controlled airplane was performing practice takeoffs and landings. During the last departure the airplane banked to the left and collided with trees. Global Positioning System (GPS) flight track data recovered from a handheld GPS device within the airplane (which did not include altitude information) indicated that this turn was flown at a rate and groundspeed comparable to the prior turns performed during the flight. The data further revealed that a few seconds after the final turn the airplane made an abrupt course reversal back to the runway; however, this sudden change of heading was more than likely a GPS anomaly. The pilot did not provide either a written or verbal statement to the NTSB and did not respond to multiple requests to make the airplane or engine available for examination.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR10LA274 for the full record.