Flying Car Prototypes Grounded After Crash Near School

The Transportation Safety Board says the U.S. manufacturer of flying cars has grounded all five of its prototypes until it can determine a cause for a recent crash in B.C. One of the Maverick flying cars crashed near a Vernon elementary school last week, leaving a pilot and a passenger with minor injuries.

May 17, 2013

VERNON, B.C. (CP) -- The Transportation Safety Board says the U.S. manufacturer of flying cars has grounded all five of its prototypes until it can determine a cause for a recent crash in B.C.

One of the Maverick flying cars crashed near a Vernon elementary school last week, leaving a pilot and a passenger with minor injuries.

The TSB's Bill Yearwood says representatives of the manufacturer are in the Okanagan attempting to determine what caused the temporary loss of control.

Until that has been determined, Yearwood says the maker has decided to ground the prototypes.

The TSB has no jurisdiction in the investigation because the Maverick isn't a registered aircraft, and Yearwood says it will be up to the builders to report back on the cause of the crash during a test flight.

The vehicle resembles a dune buggy that has a large propeller on the back and uses a type of parasail for flight. (CICF)