Aeros Trike, N6111F: Accident occurred October 30, 2011 in Amherst, Virginia

NTSB Identification: ERA12CA054 
 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, October 30, 2011 in Amherst, VA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 02/06/2012
Aircraft: AEROS LTD TRIKE, registration: N6111F
Injuries: 1 Serious.

NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The student pilot was conducting his first solo flight in the experimental light sport, weight-shift control aircraft. He reported that he lost control of the aircraft during the initial climb after takeoff. According to a witness and the pilot's flight instructor, the pilot stalled the aircraft several times while maneuvering around the traffic pattern. During a right turn onto the final leg of the traffic pattern, the aircraft entered a steep descent and impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot stated that there were no preexisting mechanical anomalies with the aircraft. He reported 16 hours of total flight experience, which included 1 hour in the same make and model as the accident aircraft.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The student pilot's inadequate aircraft control and improper airspeed while maneuvering to land, which resulted in a stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in the make and model of the accident aircraft.

Sussex County Councilman Vance Phillips

In this screen grab from Vance Phillips' facebook page, the councilman posted this photo last week of his "new toy."

http://registry.faa.gov/N6111F
UPDATED STORY 7:45 a.m.: WBDJ7-TV in Amherst County,Virginia says Sussex County Councilman Vance Phillips is recovering today at the University of Virginia Hospital near Charlottesville; he broke his back Sunday when his Aeros Trike crashed in Amherst County.

The TV station is reporting that State Police in Virginia say Phillips tried landing too fast at a steep angle and that’s what caused the crash.

Sussex County Councilman Vance Phillips is in serious condition at a Virginia hospital from injuries suffered in a small sport plane crash Sunday.

Phillips, 49, of Laurel, is hospitalized at the University of Virgina Medical Center in Charlottesville, Va., according to hospital public information officer Jason Ellis.

Because of privacy laws, the hospital could not detail what injuries Phillips is being treated for.

WDBJ-Channel 7 in Lynchburg, Va., is reporting Phillips broke his back after trying to land his ultralight plane at a steep angle in Amherst County, Va.

Virginia State Police confirmed the crash occurred but had no additional details to release this morning.

The three-wheeled North Wing “trike” reportedly made a hard landing just before dusk in a field near U.S. 29 in northern Amherst County, according to a report in the Lynchburg, Va. News & Advance.

“From what it looked like, the aircraft was totaled,” Gary Roakes, communications director for Amherst County, told the Lynchburg News & Advance. “He (the pilot) was very lucky.”

Phillips’ ultralight plane is similar to a glider. On Oct. 23, Phillips posted a photo of the aircraft on his Facebook page under the headline, “new toy.”

In the comments section, Phillips told friends and family he was working on obtaining a sport pilots certificate and that “survival is first priority.”

A Federal Aviation Administration investigator was dispatched the crash site Sunday and determined the Aeros Trike was destroyed from the crash, said Jim Peters, a spokesman for the FAA eastern region.

Because of the severity of the damage to the aircraft, the FAA has turned over its investigation to the National Transportation Safety Board, Peters said.

Phillips, a former Delaware Republican Party vice chairman, made headlines last week when Sussex County Sheriff Jeff Christopher accused him of throwing a notebook at his eye and kneeing him in the groin during a heated argument at the county GOP headquarters in Georgetown.

Phillips declined to be interviewed about the incident last week. Georgetown police turned over Christopher’s complaint to the Attorney General’s Office, which is considering whether to charge Phillips with a crime.

“The thoughts and prayers of everyone here at Sussex County government are with Vance and his family this morning," County Council President Michael Vincent said in a statement this morning. "Vance is a strong and determined man. We wish him a speedy recovery, and look forward to him returning to the important business of represe

GEORGETOWN, Del.- Sussex County, Del. Councilman Vance Phillips is recovering in a Virginia hospital following a single-engine plane crash that occurred early Sunday evening near Lynchburg, Va.

According to Sussex County spokesman Chip Guy, the crash occurred in Amherst County, Va., approximately 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, as Phillips was conducting a solo flight in a sport plane at a private airstrip. Details of what caused the crash are unknown and will be under investigation by state and federal aviation authorities.

Phillips was conscious when witnesses responded to the scene, according to Guy. He was transported to Lynchburg General Hospital, and then airlifted to the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, Va., where he is listed in serious condition.

The extent of Phillips' injuries are currently unknown, Guy said.

"The thoughts and prayers of everyone here at Sussex County government are with Vance and his family this morning," said County Council President Michael Vincent said in a statement. "Vance is a strong and determined man. We wish him a speedy recovery, and look forward to him returning to the important business of representing the people of Sussex County."

http://www.delawareonline.com

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ORIGINAL STORY: WGMD News has confirmed that Sussex County Councilman Vance Phillips is at the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville this morning being treated for a broken back.

Phillips was flying his motorized ultralight airplane when it crashed yesterday.