National Transportation Safety Board

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report

Location: Clearwater, FL Accident Number: ANC18FA007

Date & Time: 11/07/2017, 1204 EST Registration: N922BA
Aircraft: ICON AIRCRAFT INC A5 Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

On November 7, 2017, about 1204 eastern standard time, an amphibious, light sport Icon
Aircraft, Inc., A5 airplane, N922BA, impacted open water in the Gulf of Mexico while
maneuvering at low level near Port New Richey, Florida. The private pilot sustained fatal
injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to N529PG
LLC, and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 visual flight rules
personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no
flight plan was filed. The local area flight departed from a lake near the pilot's home in Odessa,
Florida, about 1147.

The airplane was equipped with a digital data module that recorded basic GPS, engine, and
flight parameters. The airplane was also equipped with a Rockwell Collins engine control unit
that recorded engine parameters. The data track from the accident flight showed that the
airplane departed from a private lakeside home north of Lake Keystone in Odessa about 1147
and climbed to a GPS altitude of 1,909 ft and tracked north for 4 miles before turning to the
west toward the coastline. The airplane then flew for 10 miles and crossed over US Highway 19
about 600 ft GPS altitude, then descended to 36 ft over the water before turning south. The
airplane then flew on southerly track past Green Key Beach at 11 ft GPS altitude and 92 knots.
The airplane then performed a right 360 turn while climbing to about 100 ft. The airplane
continued on a southerly track, flying as close as 75 ft to the Gulf Harbor South Beach houses.
The last data point recovered indicated the airplane at an altitude of 200 ft, a speed of 87
knots, and tracking 196. Video footage taken of the airplane before the accident, shows the
airplane in a descending left 45 banked turn and then maneuvering about 10 ft above the
water. A witness to the accident stated, during an interview with a National Transportation
Safety Board (NTSB) investigator, that he saw the airplane perform a climb to between 300
and 500 ft on a southerly heading and then turn and descend on an easterly heading about a
45 nose-down attitude. He then saw the airplane impact the water and nose over.

The airplane came to rest in 4.5 ft of saltwater oriented on a 192 heading with the fuselage and
wings inverted. The front fuselage and cockpit were highly fragmented. The empennage section
separated from the airframe and came to rest forward of the wings in an inverted position. Two
inflated life vests and numerous fragments were recovered within a 300-ft radius from the

Page 1 of 3 ANC18FA007
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.
wreckage. All the flight controls and major components were located at the main wreckage site.
The CAP ballistic parachute system was not deployed, and the handle pin was installed.

On November 8, 2017, the wreckage was recovered from the water and transported to a secure
facility for further examination.

The airplane was a certificated light sport aircraft that was outfitted with a Rotax 912iS engine.
The pilot accepted delivery of the airplane on October 10, 2017.

The pilot's logbook indicated that he had logged a total of 703.9 flight hours, of which 51.8
hours were in an Icon A5 airplane, and 14.5 hours were in the accident airplane.

The closest weather reporting facility was the St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE),
about 19 miles southeast of the accident site. At 1153, a METAR from PIE was reporting, in
part: wind calm, visibility 10 statute miles, clouds and sky condition clear, temperature 83F,
dew point 67F, altimeter 30.08 inches of mercury.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Manufacturer: ICON AIRCRAFT INC Registration: N922BA
Model/Series: A5 NO SERIES Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file Air Carrier Operating None
Certificate:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: PIE Observation Time: 1153 EST
Distance from Accident Site: 19 Nautical Miles Temperature/Dew Point: 28C / 19C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear Wind Speed/Gusts, Calm
Direction:
Lowest Ceiling: None Visibility: 10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.08 inches Hg Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Odessa, FL Destination:

Page 2 of 3 ANC18FA007
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.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal Latitude, Longitude: 28.218333, -82.769444 (est)
Administrative Information
Investigator In Charge (IIC): Noreen O Price
Additional Participating Persons: Scott Olson; FAA FSDO; Tampa, FL
Jordan Paskevich; Rotax Aircraft Engines; Vernon, BC
Mike Turner; Icon Aircraft Inc.; Vacaville, CA
Enrique Dillon; BRS Aerospace; Miami, FL
Note: The NTSB traveled to the scene of this accident.

Page 3 of 3 ANC18FA007
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.