Warrensburg, MO, USA
UNREG
Tandem Air-Bike
The uncertificated pilot, who recently purchased the aircraft, and a pilot who did not hold a flight instructor certificate, as required, departed on the accident flight so that the uncertificated pilot could learn to fly the aircraft. The aircraft did not have a required registration and airworthiness certificate. A witness stated the aircraft wing dropped while turning. It then entered a descent and impacted the ground. The engine continued to operate during the flight. The left-wing drop followed by a descent was consistent with an aerodynamic stall. Postaccident examination of the flight controls confirmed flight control continuity. Toxicology tests revealed the front seat uncertificated pilot had high levels of methamphetamine in cavity blood and liver, most likely consistent with recent use, which likely resulted in some impairment. The rear seat pilot had a therapeutic level of oxycodone in his subclavian blood as well as a high level in his gastric fluid with only metabolite in gastric fluid, suggesting recent ingestion of the drug. He too, was likely impaired to some extent from his use of this drug. Although both pilots were likely impaired by their use of substances, whether that impairment directly contributed to the circumstances of this accident could not be determined. The root issue in this case was the decision by each occupant to get in the aircraft and attempt to fly it when they lacked the skills and qualifications to safely do so.
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn October 3, 2021, at 1000 central daylight time, a Tandem Air-Bike, unregistered, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Warrensburg, Missouri. Both occupants were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The front seat uncertificated pilot recently purchased the aircraft and asked the rear seat private pilot to teach him how to fly the aircraft. On the day of the accident, the aircraft departed from a private airstrip and flew in a northerly direction. When the airplane was about 200 ft. above the ground, it turned left toward the south. The aircraft then climbed to about 500 ft. above the ground and flew about ½ to 1 mile before turning left toward the south. During the left turn, the aircraft’s left wing dropped. The aircraft entered a descent and impacted the ground. The witness stated the engine was operating. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe front seat pilot did not hold a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot certificate. The rear seat pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine landing rating and his FAA airman medical certificate was expired. The rear seat pilot did not hold a FAA flight instructor certificate. AIRCRAFT INFORMATIONThe aircraft did not meet the definition of Part 103, Ultralight Vehicles, because the gross weight exceeded 254 lbs., the fuel capacity exceeded 5 gallons, and it was configured for more than one occupant. The aircraft was registered, nor did it have an airworthiness certificate, identifying serial number, and data plate, as required. The aircraft was equipped with front seat and rear seat controls. AIRPORT INFORMATIONThe aircraft did not meet the definition of Part 103, Ultralight Vehicles, because the gross weight exceeded 254 lbs., the fuel capacity exceeded 5 gallons, and it was configured for more than one occupant. The aircraft was registered, nor did it have an airworthiness certificate, identifying serial number, and data plate, as required. The aircraft was equipped with front seat and rear seat controls. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATIONThe airplane impacted an area of trees located in a field. The airplane was resting in a nose-down attitude with no ground scarring aside form ground scarring beneath the wreckage and impact damage was consistent with a low-speed impact with terrain. Postaccident examination of the airplane confirmed flight control continuity and revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal airplane operation. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATIONFront Seat Uncertificated Pilot According to the autopsy report issued by the Jackson County Medical Examiner, the cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma, and the manner of death was accident. No significant natural disease was identified. Acute methamphetamine intoxication was identified as an additional pathologic diagnosis. Toxicology tests performed by AXIS Forensic Toxicology at the request of the medical examiner identified ethanol at 0.028 gm/dl, as well as methamphetamine at 3,249 ng/ml, and its metabolite, amphetamine at 272 ng/ml in cavity blood. Toxicology testing performed by the FAA’s Forensic Sciences Laboratory identified ethanol at 0.025 gm/dl in cavity and 0.016 mg/hg in liver tissue but none in muscle tissue. In addition, methamphetamine was identified in cavity blood at 2,533 ng/ml and in liver tissue at 8,219 ng/gm; its primary active metabolite, amphetamine, was identified in cavity blood at 191 ng/ml and in liver tissue at 738 ng/gm. Rear Seat Certificated Pilot According to the autopsy report issued by the Jackson County Medical Examiner, the cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma, and the manner of death was accident. The heart showed left ventricular hypertrophy and the kidneys showed evidence of nephrosclerosis, both usually a consequence of high blood pressure. Toxicology tests performed by AXIS Forensic Toxicology at the request of the medical examiner identified oxycodone at 132 ng/ml in subclavian blood. Toxicology testing performed by the FAA’s Forensic Sciences Laboratory identified oxycodone at 222 ng/ml in cavity blood, at 492 ng/ml in gastric fluid, and at 100 ng/gm in liver tissue as well as the presence of its metabolite, oxymorphone, in gastric fluid but not in cavity blood or liver tissue. In addition, hydroxychloroquine, carvedilol, and losartan were identified in cavity blood, gastric fluid, and liver. Finally, acetaminophen (also known as Tylenol) was found in liver and muscle tissues, and terbinafine (an antifungal medication) was identified in cavity blood, gastric fluid, and liver tissue. The last two are not generally considered impairing.
The improper judgment of both pilots to attempt a flight while impaired by drugs/medications and their failure to maintain control of the aircraft, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
