NTSB Identification: CEN12LA584
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, August 27, 2012 in Bemidji, MN
Probable Cause Approval Date: 05/09/2013
Aircraft: TOP DOG TD2, registration: N71314
Injuries: 1 Fatal,1 Serious.
NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The pilot was returning to the airport after a local flight with a passenger. The passenger stated that when the pilot entered the final approach for the runway, he established a steep nose down descent and a right bank angle, and the aircraft flew straight into the ground. The passenger stated that the pilot did not appear to struggle to maintain or regain control and that he did not give any other indication of a problem. The passenger did not observe any indication of a malfunction of the powerplant or flight controls. Additionally, postaccident examination did not reveal any mechanical issues or anomalies with the aircraft that would have precluded normal operations. Records indicated that the pilot had recently purchased and had about 2 hours of flight time in the weight-shift-control aircraft. There was no indication that he had received any type of transition training regarding the differences between this aircraft and the certificated tricycle gear airplane in which most of his recent flight experience was accumulated.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control and his inadequate flare during landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to obtain training on the operation of the accident aircraft.
HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On August 27, 2012, about 1847 central daylight time, an experimental weight-shift-control Top Dog TD2 (trike) aircraft, N71314, impacted terrain while landing at the Moberg Air Base Airport (MN13), near Bemidji, Minnesota. The private pilot was fatally injured and the passenger was seriously injured. The aircraft sustained substantial structural damage. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed for the flight, which did not operate on a VFR flight plan. The local flight originated from MN13.
The passenger, who had previously taken flying lessons, saw that the pilot was giving rides “on his recently acquired trike” over Grassy Lake. He accepted a flight from the pilot. The passenger’s statement, in part, said:
We were coming from the lake and were traveling perpendicular
to the runway. As we cleared a group of trees located on the
East side of the runway about mid-way on the strip, he
immediately banked hard to the right and start[ed] turning to
the North, he also established a steep descent angle as he
entered his final approach. The steep nose down approach and
right bank angle never changed and we appeared to fly straight
into the ground. I do not recall [the pilot] struggling to
maintain or regain control or giving any other indication of a
problem. I never heard him say anything or attempt to
communicate with me in any way.
I never lost consciousness and ended up hanging upside down
from the seat. ... I never observed any indication of a
malfunction of the power plant or flight controls.
Witnesses saw the aircraft bank prior to landing. One witness stated that the aircraft “came in a little sharp.” Another witness indicated that prior to impact, it was a “normal sounding landing” and he confirmed that it “didn't sound like the engine was having trouble.”
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
The 49-year-old pilot held a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) private pilot license with an airplane single engine land rating. This pilot held a FAA third class medical certificate, with no limitations, dated December 10, 2010. On the application for that medical certificate, he reported that he had accumulated 170 hours of total flight time and 25 hours of flight time in the prior six months.
The pilot’s records were brought to a FAA inspector for review. According to the inspector, the pilot appeared to have approximately 170 hours in a weight-shift-control aircraft, of which approximately 150 hours were before December of 2011. Before acquiring his weight-shift-control aircraft, the pilot had not operated a weight-shift-control aircraft since April 2012. Within the last year, he had approximately 20 hours in a weight-shift-control aircraft and approximately 96 hours in tricycle gear aircraft. Before the accident, the pilot had about 2 hours in the accident aircraft. There did not appear to be any type of transition training between this aircraft and the certificated tricycle gear aircraft that he had been operating for most of his flight hours over the last year.
The passenger held a FAA third class medical certificate, with limitations for wearing corrective lenses, dated October 27, 2010. On the application for that medical certificate, the passenger reported that he had accumulated 10 hours of total flight time and 10 hours of flight time in the prior six months.
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
According to FAA airworthiness records, N71314 was an experimental weight-shift-control Top Dog TD2 (trike) aircraft, with serial number 9318. The airplane was powered by a Rotax 582DCDI engine, which drove a 62-inch, ground adjustable, propeller. The wing was reported to be a Gibbo Gear model known as Big Butterfly. The aircraft had a reported empty weight of 452 pounds and a maximum gross weight of 950 pounds. A FAA registration bill of sale form 8050-2 indicated that the pilot purchased this aircraft on August 18, 2012.
METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION
At 1855, the recorded weather at the Bemidji Regional Airport, near Bemidji, Minnesota, was: Wind 020 degrees at 4 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 23 degrees C; dew point 9 degrees C; altimeter 30.11 inches of mercury.
AIRPORT INFORMATION
MN13 was a private, non-towered airport located about 3 miles west of the city at an elevation of 1,373 feet. It was served by a 2,263 foot by 150 foot turf runway orientated on northwest and southeast headings.
WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION
A FAA inspector examined and took pictures of the wreckage. The postaccident examination and a review of the images did not reveal any mechanical issues or anomalies with the aircraft that would have precluded normal operations.
MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION
An autopsy was performed on the pilot at the Sanford Bemidji Medical Center on August 28, 2012. The cause of death was listed as exsanguination due to traumatic laceration of the thoracic aorta.
The FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute prepared a Final Forensic Toxicology Accident Report. The report was negative for the tests performed.
NTSB Identification: CEN12LA584
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, August 27, 2012 in Bemidji, MN
Aircraft: TOP DOG TD2, registration: N71314
Injuries: 1 Fatal,1 Serious.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
On August 27, 2012, about 1847 central daylight time, an experimental weight-shift Top Dog TD2 aircraft, N71314, impacted terrain under unknown circumstances near Bemidji, Minnesota. The private pilot sustained fatal injuries and the pilot rated passenger sustained serious injuries. The aircraft sustained substantial structural damage. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed for the flight, which did not operate on a VFR flight plan. The flight’s origination and destination are unknown.
At 1855, the recorded weather at the Bemidji Regional Airport, near Bemidji, Minnesota, was: wind 020 degrees at 4 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 23 degrees C; dew point 9 degrees C; altimeter 30.11 inches of mercury.
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 71314 Make/Model: EXP Description: TOP DOG TD2
Date: 08/27/2012 Time: 2347
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
City: BEMIDJI State: MN Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, THERE WERE 2 PERSONS ON
BOARD, 1 WAS FATALLY INJURED, 1 SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES, BEMIDJI, MN
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 1
# Crew: 2 Fat: 1 Ser: 1 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
OTHER DATA
Activity: Pleasure Phase: Unknown Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: MINNEAPOLIS, MN (GL15) Entry date: 08/28/2012
BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a plane crash Monday that left one man dead and another injured.
Ultralight plane pilot Jay Russell Davis, 49, of Bemidji was pronounced dead at the scene.
The crash, reported at 7:17 p.m., occurred at the Moberg Seaplane Air Base, a grass landing strip west of Bemidji off of 15th Street NW in Grant Valley Township.
In a news release, Beltrami County Sheriff Phil Hodapp said witnesses reported the plane was banking through a turn – apparently preparing to land at the grass strip – when the wing struck the ground causing the plane to crash.
This aircraft is described as a “tricycle” style plane with seating for the pilot and one passenger position behind the pilot.
Davis and his passenger, 56-year-old Paul Jerome Wannarka of Bemidji, were strapped into their seats at the time of the crash.
Wannarka initially was transported by Bemidji Ambulance to Sanford Bemidji Medical Center for his injuries. He was then airlifted to a Fargo, N.D., hospital.
Witnesses told sheriff’s officials that Davis was an experienced ultralight pilot.
“He had taken up several people, he was just returning” from a flight, Hodapp said Tuesday.
The news release said Davis had piloted at least three uneventful flights Monday night before the crash.
Officials from the Bemidji Police Department, Minnesota State Patrol, Bemidji Fire Department, and Beltrami County First Responders also responded to the crash.
http://www.jamestownsun.com
A pilot was killed and a passenger injured when a small plane crashed Monday evening in Beltrami County.
The crash happened at 7:15 p.m. at the Moberg Seaplane Air Base, a grass landing strip located west of Bemidji in Grant Valley Township. Jay Russell Davis, 49, of Bemidji was pronounced dead at the scene. Paul Jerome Wannarka, 56, of Bemidji was taken to a Fargo hospital with injuries.
Witnesses say Davis is an experienced pilot and was giving rides to other ultralight enthusiasts on Monday evening. On the fourth or fifth trip, they said Davis was banking through a turn and apparently preparing to land when the wing struck the ground.
The Federal Aviation Administration is assisting local authorities in the investigation of the crash.
One dead, another injured in airplane crash Monday evening near Bemidji
Beltrami County Sheriff Phil Hodapp said the pilot of an ultralight airplane died as he was landing the plane. It appears the pilot attempted to land the plane too sharply and one of the aircraft's wings hit the ground, causing it to crash.
The pilot, who has not been identified, died, while a passenger was injured and flown to a hospital, Hodapp said.
The crash was reported at 7:17 p.m. at 2795 Aero Drive NW, Bemidji.
"He had taken up several people, he was just returning" from a flight, Hodapp said. The crash occurred on the fourth or fifth flight the pilot had done Monday evening.
No comments:
Post a Comment