| Crash location | 32.547777°N, 83.826945°W |
| Nearest city | Fort Valley, GA
32.553759°N, 83.887408°W 3.5 miles away |
| Tail number | N53AW |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 02 Oct 2016 |
| Aircraft type | Airborne Windsports Pty Ltd Edge Xt 912 L |
| Additional details: | None |
According to the flight instructor in the weight shift control aircraft, he made two low approaches and two go-arounds to runway 36. He reported that during the third approach, he crossed the runway threshold, "rounded up" and the left wing "flew up, and the right wing dropped precipitously, as if it stalled." The aircraft swiftly yawed to the right, descended rapidly and the pilot avowed that he responded with a full control deflection. He added that the deflection leveled the aircraft just before impact with the turf, and the aircraft heading was about 35° to 50??° right of the runway heading. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to both wings and the airframe.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Aviation Safety Inspector examined the aircraft wreckage and was unable to locate the right side over-center washout strut spilt ring. The split ring connects the washout strut and the leading edge of the right wing spar, which allows the pilot to manipulate the aircraft's directional control. Post-impact photographs of the left side over-center washout strut split ring appears to be partially attached, and the right side split ring was not located in the wreckage.
The failure of the aircraft’s right overcenter washout strut split ring, which resulted in the pilot’s inability to maintain lateral control of the aircraft and subsequent ground impact.