Trick Trikes Storm Trooper, N5157G: Accident occurred August 16, 2013 near Covert, Michigan

http://registry.faa.gov/N5157G

NTSB Identification: CEN13LA493
 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, August 16, 2013 in Covert, MI
Aircraft: TRICK TRIKES STORM TROOPER, registration: N5157G
Injuries: 1 Serious,1 Minor.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On August 16, 2013, about 1235 eastern daylight time, a Trick Trikes Storm Trooper airplane, N5157G, impacted terrain while maneuvering near Covert, Michigan. The pilot was seriously injured and the passenger received minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which departed without a flight plan from an unknown location.
According to witness statements, the airplane made two low altitude passes over a coastline beach area. Following these two passes, the airplane made a turn and impacted the beach area in a steep right bank attitude, damaging the structure of both wings.
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JONES, Mich.  -- ABC 57 spoke exclusively with the fifteen year old boy who survived one of the most recent ultralight plane crash.

Dillen Smith, 15, suffered a broken nose, several broken ribs, an injured leg, and a concussion.

Smith says he does not remember falling out of the sky.

"We were turning to land and the pipe broke and knocked me out," Smith recalled.

Smith says since the accident he has focused on enjoying every second of his life.

For his mom, this journey has been a little more difficult.

She says there are no words to describe how she felt when she got the call that her son was in a plane crash.

"It could have killed my boy, but the way the pilot, Scotty braced him in his chair when he saw that they were going to crash saved my son's life at great costs to himself," said Smith's m other.

Smith’s uncle, who was flying the plane, says that he stuck his legs out to try to protect Dillen and take most of the impact.

He  is still in the hospital, he broke his back in three different places and crushed his legs.

Story, Video and Related Content:  http://www.abc57.com