Sunday, May 29, 2022

AirBorne Edge XT-912-L, N490F: Fatal accident occurred May 29, 2022 near Granite Shoals/Bob Sylvester Airpark (2G5), Burnet County, Texas

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.

The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entities: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Antonio, Texas
Rotax-Rotech Flight Safety


Location: Granite Shoals, Texas
Accident Number: WPR22FA189
Date and Time: May 29, 2022, 08:00 Local 
Registration: N490F
Aircraft: AIRBORNE WINDSPORTS PTY LTD EDGE XT-912-L 
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On May 29, 2022, about 0800 central daylight time, an Airborne Windsports Edge weight shift control light sport airplane, N490F, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Granite Shoals, Texas. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

A residential security camera located near the Granite Shoals/Bob Sylvester Airpark (2G5), captured the trike at 0709 taxiing towards the approach end of runway 20. Witnesses observed the trike flying in the area for about 20-30 minutes before the accident. A witness stated the trike made several passes over the airpark. He did not witness the accident but recalled the wind condition to be “super windy.” Another witness stated that the wind condition was “swift” with gusts at the time of the accident.

The airport was situated at an elevation of 860 ft above mean sea level. It was equipped with one runway where its surface is a mix of turf and gravel. The runway, designated 2/20, measured 2,000 ft long by 50 ft wide. The airport was not equipped with an air traffic control tower.

The weather observations from Horseshoe Bay Resort Airport (DZB), Horseshow Bay, Texas, 4 miles south of 2G5, indicated a southerly wind at 4 knots increasing to 12 knots with gusts to 18 knots near the accident time.

An examination of the accident site revealed that the trike impacted a mesquite tree near the approach end of runway 20. The trike’s wing separated from the carriage and remained in the tree. The wreckage debris field was about 115 ft long and on a southerly heading. The engine and carriage (cockpit area) remained intact and came to rest at the end of the debris field.

The wreckage was relocated to a secured facility for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: AIRBORNE WINDSPORTS PTY LTD
Registration: N490F
Model/Series: EDGE XT-912-L 
Aircraft Category: Weight-shift
Amateur Built:
Operator: 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KDZB,1093 ft msl
Observation Time: 07:55 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 4 Nautical Miles 
Temperature/Dew Point: 23°C /19°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 1700 ft AGL
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 6 knots / , 180°
Lowest Ceiling: 
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.78 inches Hg 
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Granite Shoals, TX 
Destination: Granite Shoals, TX

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 30.591989,-98.367975 (est)

Aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances after striking a tree.

Date: 29-MAY-22
Time: 11:19:00Z
Regis#: N490F
Aircraft Make: AIRBORNE WINDSPORTS
Aircraft Model: EDGE XT-912
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: FATAL
Total Fatal: 2
Flight Crew: 1 fatal
Pax: 1 fatal
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: UNKNOWN (UNK)
Operation: 91
City: GRANITE SHOALS
State: TEXAS

Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation may contact them by email witness@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov. You can also call the NTSB Response Operations Center at 844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290.

Granite Shoals Police Department -

Due to the earlier ultralight trike crash, Forest Hills from Mystic to Green Forest will be CLOSED until further notice. Green Forest is closed except for residents on the street. 

The FAA will be responding from San Antonio while the NTSB and salvage company are responding from some distance away. 

Any person crossing the barricades is subject to involvement with a DPS Trooper. Please avoid the area. We will post when the roadway is back open.

Granite Shoals Police Department -

The Granite Shoals Police Department with the Burnet County Sheriff's Office, Texas DPS, and Granite Shoals Fire Rescue are on scene of an ultralight trike emergency just off the Granite Shoals airfield. 

Texas DPS, the FAA, and the NTSB will be working the crash. 

The point of contact for media will be the Texas DPS.

There will be no further information posted from the GSPD about this incident.

Please avoid the area off Forest Hills. 

Out of respect for the victims no photos will be posted until next of kin can be notified.

The FAA provided the following statement:

"An Airborne Windsports Edge 912 weight-shift control aircraft crashed in Granite Shoals, Texas, around 7:00 a.m. local time today. Two people were on board. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide additional updates."

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