Accident Details
On October 25, 2022, before 1800 Pacific standard time, an unregistered Airborne Windsports Edge X weight-shift-control aircraft was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Alturas Municipal Airport (AAT), Alturas, California. The non-certificated pilot was fatally injured. The aircraft was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
Witness and Tracking Information
According to law enforcement, an officer was dispatched at approximately 1807 and observed the accident aircraft between the north and southbound runway and taxiway. The responding officer had been on duty earlier and recalled observing the aircraft flying around the area between 1200 and 1500. There were no known witnesses of the accident event. Flight track data of the accident flight was not available.
Pilot and Ownership History
According to the previous owner, before the transfer of ownership he conducted several flight hours with the accident pilot to demonstrate how the aircraft handles. After the previous owner had suggested not to fly the aircraft without first receiving introductory lessons, the accident pilot expressed confidence and stated he was familiar with flying hang gliders.
Aircraft Information
The previous owner stated that the engine and propeller had accumulated 7 hours of total time when he sold the aircraft to the accident pilot.
Medical and Pathological Findings
The autopsy identified severe atherosclerosis in the pilot’s right coronary artery (95%) and the left anterior descending coronary artery (75%), severe aortic atherosclerosis, cardiomegaly (395 grams), and left ventricular hypertrophy (2.0 centimeters). Toxicology testing detected carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH) in the pilot’s heart blood at 10 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) and in urine at 313.1 ng/mL. 11-hydroxy-delta-9-THC (11-OH-THC) was detected in his urine at 33.7 ng/mL, but not in his blood. The non-impairing medication salicylic acid was detected in the pilot’s heart blood and urine.