Quicksilver Sport 2S | N960B

The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the accident pilot had never flown this aircraft, or this type, and did make a takeoff for the purpose of test after an extended period of storage and non use. The aircraft had known characteristics of not enough rudder surface area for high power and high AOA situations, where the aircraft would turn left due to lack of rudder. After takeoff, the aircraft was observed to turn left and appeared to be about ready to hit a hangar, whereupon the power was reduced and the aircraft cleared the hangar. Then full power was restored and the aircraft turned more abruptly to the left, the nose was raised, and the aircraft entered an aerodynamic stall, followed by a full spin to the left. The cause of this accident remains centered in the pilots overall lack of experience with the type and the improper handling of the left turning P factor associated with that specific flight condition.

The NTSB determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during the takeoff and his exceedance of
the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and spin at low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of experience in the accident airplane make
and model

The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all aircraft become familiar with each type and approach test flights, and return to service flights with great care, and to not attempt actual flight until very familiar with specific aircraft flight characteristics to be acquired during extensive ground tests.