Incident Details

On the final day of a 9-day road trip, Trevor was flying in a wheat field in Montana with friends Scott and Mike around 7:39 AM. After following Scott through the field, he dove away and attempted a wing tip drag maneuver. His wing tip hooked on the wheat and didn't release, pulling him into the ground. He tumbled 3-4 times before coming to a stop. Initially thinking he was okay, he attempted to walk out with his motor but realized after 200 feet that his ankles were seriously injured. Friends helped him to his truck, and he drove 8 hours back to Salt Lake City before going to the hospital the next day. Left heel bone broke and required surgical repair with bolts on August 23rd. Right heel had a hairline fracture. Spent 1 month in wheelchair, returned to walking by October 23rd, and was back to foot launching by December 2023.

Multiple contributing factors: 1) Shifted risk tolerance after performing hundreds of wing tip drags during June 2023 practice sessions in Texas, 2) Fatigue from 9-day road trip with 2-3,000 miles driven, sleeping in tents, and flying twice daily, 3) Sleep deprivation from late evening flights (9 PM) and early morning takeoffs (6-7 AM), 4) Ego and desire to impress new flying partners, 5) Performing an inherently risky maneuver (wing tip drag) that he previously avoided for years, 6) Poor assessment of risk management, 7) Being in an unfamiliar wheat field location. Pilot acknowledged making poor decisions he normally wouldn't make and flying in ways he knew were inappropriate.

Left heel bone broken, required surgery on August 23rd with bolts inserted. Right heel had hairline fracture visible to only one of three doctors. Unable to walk for several months. Spent 1 month in wheelchair (until Sept 9th), then used only right foot until October 23rd when cleared to use left foot. Still healing as of December 13th recording date, but back to walking, running, and foot launching.

Experienced pilot and instructor with over 10 years of teaching experience. Had flown approximately 70-100 hours in 2023 prior to crash. Owner of Backcountry PPG training school in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Early morning conditions, approximately 7:30-7:39 AM

Detailed self-analysis by Trevor Steele: Incident occurred August 9, 2023 at 7:39 AM near Flathead Lake, Montana during wing tip drag maneuver in wheat field. Wing tip hooked wheat and pulled pilot into ground, tumbling 3-4 times. Left heel bone broken (surgery Aug 23), right heel hairline fracture. 1 month wheelchair-bound. Contributing factors identified by pilot: - Shifted risk tolerance after hundreds of wing tip drag practice sessions in June 2023 in Corpus Christi, Texas - Had avoided wing tip drags for years prior, but wanted to prove he could do "wing tip drag to landing" maneuver - 9-day road trip with 2-3,000 miles driven, exhausted from flying twice daily for past week - Poor sleep (flying until 9 PM, taking off 6-7 AM), sleeping in tent - Flying with new people, ego wanting to impress - Day before: flew mile from shore over lake chasing jet ski, flew over dam with boulders - Performing maneuver he knew he shouldn't be doing - Not focused, inputs slightly off due to fatigue Pilot's reflection: "I was making poor decisions with risk management... what happened to me was a blessing in disguise because it was also the slap across the face saying hey you're not immune, you're not Invincible." Lessons learned: - Risk tolerance shifts gradually and unconsciously - Must actively monitor and manage risk tolerance - Ego can lead to poor decision making - Fatigue significantly impacts judgment - Need clear "line in the sand" rules that don't shift - Importance of listening to others' safety concerns (friend Mike had warned him about risky flying) - Need for culture where safety concerns can be voiced without judgment