What happened
On February 3, 2007, at approximately 11:55 local time, a Quick Silver Sport 2S ultralight aircraft crashed in a pear orchard near the Zhongpu Airfield in Chiayi County, Taiwan. The aircraft was in its initial climb phase when it lost altitude and struck the ground at a 35-degree dive angle with a heading of 330 degrees. The impact caused substantial damage to the airframe, including severe deformation of the main spar and seat chassis, upward bending of the tail, and the separation of the engine from its mounts.
Data retrieved from the onboard GPS receiver indicated that the aircraft began ground taxiing at 11:52:25 and took off at 11:54:13. During the climb, the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 112 meters. The final 20 seconds of recorded flight data showed the aircraft oscillating left and right, with altitude increasing and then decreasing before the GPS signal ceased.
Following the crash, the pilot sustained one serious injury, including a brain edema and a fractured right femur, and remained in a coma for several days. Local residents reported seeing the aircraft veer to the left before falling.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's engine, a Rotax 582 UL, at an authorized maintenance facility. Testing confirmed that the engine and all its components, including the carburetor, magneto, and spark plugs, were functioning normally. The engine demonstrated stable power output across full, cruise, and low-power settings, ruling out mechanical failure as a cause.
The investigation also reviewed the legality of the flight operations. It was established that the Zhongpu Airfield and its associated airspace were unauthorized for ultralight activities. Furthermore, the aircraft lacked a valid inspection certificate from the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA), and the pilot was operating without a required ultralight pilot certificate. Additionally, records indicated that the aircraft had a history of a previous heavy landing that had caused structural damage to the airframe prior to being resold to the accident pilot.