LaBelle, FL, USA
UNREG
Unknown DragonFly B
The flight departed for the purpose of observing the ground where an event for the South Florida Free Flight Association was planned. A witness reported that the flight returned after being airborne about 10 minutes and appeared to be on approach to land. The airplane was observed to be in a right bank and, "apparently stalled and went into a spin. At that time, they were approximately 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile east to the East of me, and at approximately 300 feet of altitude. They did not recover from the spin, and the plane hit the ground nose first." The airplane was not registered with the Federal Aviation Administration though it was required to be based on the purpose of the flight and the number of seats installed. Examination of the airplane after recovery revealed no evidence of airframe, engine, or flight control preimpact failure or malfunction.
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 23, 2001, about 1854 eastern daylight time, a two-seat DragonFly B, unregistered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), operated by Florida Ridge Soaring Center, crashed while turning base to final at a private airstrip near LaBelle, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The flight originated about 1844 from LaBelle, Florida. The flight departed for the purpose of observing the ground where an event for the South Florida Free Flight Association was planned. A witness reported that the flight returned after being airborne about 10 minutes and appeared to be on approach to land. The airplane was observed to be in a right bank and, "apparently stalled and went into a spin. At that time, they were approximately 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile east to the East of me, and at approximately 300 feet of altitude. They did not recover from the spin, and the plane hit the ground nose first." PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot-in-command was seated in the rear seat and was the holder of a private pilot certificate with an airplane single engine land rating. He was issued a third class medical certificate on February 25, 1999, with the limitation, "Must have available glasses for near vision." His application for that medical certificate indicates that his total flight time was 600 hours. No determination was made how much flight time he had accumulated since then to the date of the accident. There was no record of the front seat occupant being issued an FAA pilot certificate. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airplane was not registered with the Federal Aviation Administration. It was equipped with two tandem oriented seats and according to the owner of the airplane, a 5-6 gallon fuel tank. It was also equipped with a Rotax 914 turbocharged engine, a ballistic recovery system (BRS) model 900 parachute, and a three bladed composite IVO Prop Corp., propeller. The front and rear seats have interconnected flight and throttle controls. The design empty weight of the airplane with a single battery and without a parachute is 222 kilograms or approximately 489 pounds and the design gross weight is 450 kilograms or approximately 992 pounds. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION An automated weather observation taken at the Page Field Airport, Fort Myers, Florida, on the day of the accident at 1853 hours local, indicates that the wind was calm, and the visibility was 10 statute miles. Clear skies existed and the temperature and dew point were approximately 79 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively. The altimeter setting was 30.05 inHg. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) did not examine the accident site. According to information provided either by the investigator with the medical examiner's office or by the investigator with the Hendry County Sheriff's Department, the airplane impacted the ground on a south-southeast heading; the crash site was located approximately 500 yards north-northeast of the runway. A ballistic recovery parachute was found deployed at the crash site. The left wing was removed during recovery of the airplane. Examination of the airplane after recovery by the NTSB revealed no markings on the upper or lower surfaces of the wings, or on the empennage. All components necessary to sustain flight were observed at the location where the airplane examination occurred. Examination of the elevator, rudder, and aileron flight controls revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. Examination of the airframe revealed no evidence of pre-impact failure or malfunction. The leading edge of the right wing near the tip was rotated forward, and the leading edge of the left wing was displaced up beginning about 4 ribs from the end. Examination of the airspeed tube installed beneath the right wing revealed the disk moved freely. The front seat lapbelt/shoulder harness was connected; the webbing of the lapbelt and shoulder harness was cut. The rear seat lapbelt/shoulder harness assembly was undone. Examination of the engine revealed crankshaft, camshaft, and valve train continuity. Thumb suction and compression was noted in all cylinders. All ignition leads were found connected at both spark plugs of all cylinders. The turbocharger impeller freely rotated. Both auxiliary fuel pumps were electrically checked and found to operate satisfactory. The oil tank was found to contain an unknown quantity of oil, and the coolant tank was found to contain approximately 1/4 capacity. A slight amount of fuel was found in the in-line fuel filter. Examination of the three-bladed propeller revealed one of the blades was bent and partially fractured approximately 18.5 inches from the tip. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION Postmortem examinations of the pilot and passenger were performed by Rebecca A. Hamilton, Interim District Medical Examiner, Fort Myers, Florida. The cause of death for the pilot was listed as blunt chest trauma, and the cause of death for the passenger was listed as multiple blunt trauma. The FAA Toxicology and Accident Research Laboratory (CAMI) performed analysis of specimens of the passenger. Wuesthoff Reference Laboratory (Wuesthoff) performed analysis of specimens of the pilot and passenger. The result of analysis by Wuesthoff of specimens of the pilot indicate that caffeine was detected in heart blood and urine. Quinine/quinidine, and quinine/quinidine metabolite were detected in the drug screen. The results of analysis of specimens of the passenger by CAMI was negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, volatiles, and tested drugs. The results of analysis of specimens of the passenger by Wuesthoff was positive for Nicotine, and Nicotine Metabolite, in the urine. TESTS AND RESEARCH Review of 14 CFR Part 103.1 revealed that an ultralight by definition, "Is used or intended to be used for manned operation in the air by a single occupant", and if powered, "Weighs less than 254 pounds empty weight, excluding floats and safety devices which are intended for deployment in a potentially catastrophic situation." As discussed in the "Aircraft Information" section of this report, the airplane was equipped with 2 seats and the design empty weight is 489 pounds. Review of 14 CFR Part 103.7 revealed, "No person may conduct operations that require a deviation from this part except under a written waiver issued by the Administrator. A copy of 14 CFR Part 103 is an attachment to this report. According to personnel from Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), Aero Sports Connection (ASC), and United States Ultralight Association, Inc. (USUA), the pilot and passenger were not registered with their associations as either a pilot or flight instructor. Statements from the EAA, ASC, and USUA are attachments to this report. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION No components of the airplane were retained by NTSB.
The inadvertent stall/spin by the pilot resulting in an uncontrolled descent and impact with the ground.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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