Accident Overview
On April 1, 2023, at approximately 0735 mountain daylight time, an Aerotrike Cobra weight-shift-control (WSC) light sport aircraft, bearing expired registration number N3517Q, was destroyed in an accident near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 for personal purposes.
Flight Sequence
According to family members, the pilot departed from Dona Ana County International Jetport Airport (DNA) in Santa Teresa on the morning of the accident. The pilot planned to rendezvous with a friend who was also flying in the area. The friend, who was conducting an instructional tandem flight in a powered parachute, witnessed the accident aircraft north of his position flying level at about 1,100 ft above ground level (agl). He then observed the trike turn south toward his location. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft entered a flat spin that continued until it impacted the ground. The friend stated that the engine appeared to be operating normally, and he saw nothing broken or deformed with the wing during the spin. Nearby witnesses reported hearing the impact and a subsequent explosion.
Wreckage and Parachute System
Examination of the accident site revealed that the aircraft struck a street surface near an intersection. A small fire ensued, consuming portions of the wreckage and nearby trees. The wing structure and carriage remained attached but exhibited impact and thermal damage. The airframe parachute system had activated; the parachute deployed from its containment bag but remained within the sleeve. The parachute T-handle remained securely in its mount, and the safety pin was found adjacent to the pin hole area. The safety pin's engagement surface showed less sooting residue than the pin head.
Mechanical Examination
A postaccident examination of the wreckage found no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Pilot Information
An autopsy performed by the Office of the Medical Investigator at the University of New Mexico determined the cause of death as blunt trauma, with the manner of death ruled accidental. The pilot's logbook did not indicate any flight experience or training in a weight-shift-control trike.