PANACA, NV, USA
N999TG
GRIFFIN, THOMAS MODIFIED KR-Z
A WITNESS TO THE ACCIDENT OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT CLIMB STRAIGHT AHEAD AND MAKE A SHALLOW LEFT 90 DEGREE TURN. THE AIRCRAFT WAS THEN OBSERVED TO RESUME LEVEL FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SLOWLY WEN INTO A BANK AND FELL OFF INTO A DIVE STRIKING THE GROUND. THIS WAS THE FIRST TEST FLIGHT FOR THIS AIRCRAFT. NO FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND IN THE AIRFRAME, POWER PLANT OR FLIGHT CONTROLS. NO STALL WARNING SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED ON THIS AIRCRAFT. ON AUTOPSY THE MEDICAL EXAMINERS OPINION WAS THAT THE PILOTS DEATH WAS CAUSED BY MULTIPLE EXTREME TRAUMATIC INJURIES. THE PILOT HAD HAD A CORONARY BYPASS OPERATION. THE PILOT PROBABLY ENTERED INTO A STALL DURING THE TURN TO DOWNWIND WITH INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE AVAILABLE FOR RECOVERY.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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