14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, October 15, 2012 in Half Moon Bay, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 01/13/2014
Aircraft: AEROPRO CZ A240, registration: N72AH
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The non-instrument-rated sport pilot was departing on a cross-country flight about the time local weather reports indicated 3/4 mile visibility, mist, and an overcast ceiling at 300 feet above the ground. Recorded radar data showed the airplane ascending after takeoff and turning left to an altitude of 1,100 feet mean sea level (msl). As the left turn continued, the airplane descended to an altitude of about 600 feet msl. The last recorded radar data for the accident airplane occurred less than 1/4 mile from the accident site. The airplane wreckage was located about 400 yards west of the departure airport on a bluff that overlooked and paralleled the runway. Examination of the accident site revealed ground scars and airplane damage consistent with a continuous descent from the last recorded radar data to impact. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
The restricted visibility and low ceilings that were reported in the area at the time of the accident would have been conducive to the development of spatial disorientation and the pilot’s subsequent loss of airplane control while turning, most likely in an attempt to return to the runway.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The non-instrument-rated pilot’s decision to depart into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a subsequent loss of airplane control.
HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On October 15, 2012, about 0515 Pacific daylight time (PDT), a light sport, Aeropro CZ A240 airplane, N72AH, impacted terrain near Half Moon Bay, California. The sport pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage during the accident sequence and post impact fire. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The cross-country personal flight departed Half Moon Bay Airport (HAF), Half Moon Bay, California about 0513 with a planned destination of Apple Valley Airport, Apple Valley, California.
The airplane did not reach its destination at its expected time, and became the subject of an Alert Notice (ALNOT) issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). A search was conducted by the Civil Air Patrol and the Coast Guard, and the airplane was subsequently located the morning of October 16. The wreckage was located about 400 yards west of HAF on a west facing slope. The slope was part of Pillar Point Bluffs that overlook and parallel the runway west of HAF.
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
A review of FAA airman records revealed that the 75-year-old-pilot held a sport pilot certificate with an endorsement for airplane single-engine land. The most recent FAA medical certificate was issued to the pilot in March 1985, with the limitation that he must wear corrective lenses for near and distant vision.
According to the FAA, the pilot was medically eligible to fly as a light sport pilot as long as he had a valid driver’s license and was in compliance with 14 CFR 61.53 “Prohibition on operations during medical deficiency”.
The pilot submitted his last medical application on March 7, 1985. He reported he had a total time of 157 hours with 28 hours logged in the last 6 months.
According to FAA documentation, on January 17, 1992, the sport pilot voluntarily surrendered his Mechanic-Powerplant; Private Pilot-Single Engine Land and Glider-Aero Tow; and Senior Parachute Rigger Certificates due to failing eye sight.
A review of the pilot’s logbook revealed that the last entry was on August 29th, 2012; at that time the pilot had accrued 822.6 hours of total flight time.
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
The airplane was a light sport Aeropro CZ, serial number 32511. The aircraft logbook reported that the airplane had a total airframe time of 122.7 hours at the most recent annual inspection. The last entry in the aircraft logbook showed 144.9 hours of total time.
The engine was a Rotax 912ULS, serial number 6777485. Total time recorded on the engine at the most recent annual inspection was 122.7 hours of total time. According to the last entry in the aircraft logbook, the engine oil and filter was changed at 144.9 hours of total time in service.
Fueling records at the Half Moon Bay Airport established that the airplane was last fueled on October 9, 2012 at 1703 with the addition of about 13 gallons of 100LL fuel. Subsequent to the accident, fuel was tested at the HAF fueling facilities for contaminates and tested OK for use.
METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS
An aviation routine weather report was recorded at HAF, near the time of the accident. It indicated at 0555 PDT, wind was from 360 degrees at 6 knots, 3/4 miles visibility, mist, with an overcast ceiling at 300 feet, temperature 13 degrees C, dew point 13 degrees C, and an altimeter setting at 30.08 inches of mercury.
AIRPORT INFORMATION
The FAA Digital Airport/Facility Directory indicated that HAF Airport had an Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS)-3, which broadcast on frequency 127.275.
The FAA Digital Airport/Facility Directory indicated that HAF runway 30 is ,5000 feet long and 150 feet wide. The runway surface was asphalt and concrete, and had a displaced threshold of 762 feet.
WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and an inspector from the FAA examined the wreckage at the accident scene. The first identified point of contact (FIPC) was a pattern of broken and displaced brush and limbs about 35 feet in length. Paralleling the pattern was a narrow swath about 15 feet in length. A red colored lens assembly was found near the (FIPC). The pattern and swath led uphill to the principle impact crater (PIC) which was about 5 feet in diameter. Multiple propeller blade fragments were found near the PIC. The main wreckage was found further uphill surrounded by undamaged trees and bushes about 10 feet in height. Thermal damage was contained only to the main wreckage and was not found in the debris path.
Aileron control continuity was established through the impact damaged control rods. The rudder control cables were continuous and remained attached to the rudder horn and the rudder pedals. The elevator control rods were separated at the mid-section connecting supports.
MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION
The FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory Forensic Toxicology Research Team, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed toxicological testing of specimens of the pilot. Analysis of the specimens detected Warfarin, an anticoagulant medication. Ethanol was tested and none was detected in the specimens. No tests were performed for carbon monoxide or cyanide.
TESTS AND RESEARCH
The engine was examined at Plain Parts, Sacramento, California on October 25, 2012. At the conclusion of the examination no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies were found with the engine components. A full report is contained within the public docket for this accident.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The NTSB investigator-in-charge reviewed recorded radar data from the Northern California TRACON. Ten targets made up the radar track were recorded with altitude varying from 600 up to 1,100 feet mean sea level (msl) at about the time of the accident. The recorded radar data indicated that after the target departed from HAF, it entered a climbing left turn. After turning 90-degrees arc, at the highest altitude of 1,100 feet msl, the target continued its left turn, decreasing in altitude with the last target in direction of HAF in the area of the accident site.
According to FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 60-4A "Pilot's Spatial Disorientation," "Surface references and the natural horizon may at times become obscured, although visibility may be above visual flight rule minimums. Lack of natural horizon or surface reference is common on over-water flights, at night, and especially at night in extremely sparsely populated areas or in low visibility conditions. A sloping cloud formation, an obscured horizon, a dark scene spread with ground lights and stars, and certain geometric patterns of ground lights can provide inaccurate visual information for aligning the aircraft correctly with the actual horizon. The disoriented pilot may place the aircraft in a dangerous attitude."
NTSB Identification: WPR13FA013
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, October 15, 2012 in Half Moon Bay, CA
Aircraft: AEROPRO CZ A240, registration: N72AH
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
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. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On October 15, 2012, about 0600 Pacific daylight time a light sport, Aeropro CZ A240, N72AH, impacted terrain near Half Moon Bay, California. The sport pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage during the accident sequence, and was consumed by a post impact fire. The cross-country personal flight departed Half Moon Bay Airport (HAF), in Half Moon Bay, California with a planned destination of Apple Valley Airport, Apple Valley, California. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
The airplane did not reach its destination at its expected time, and became the subject of an Alert Notice (ALNOT). A search was conducted by the Civil Air Patrol and the Coast Guard, and the airplane was subsequently located the morning of October 16. The wreckage was located about 400 yards west of HAF on a west facing slope. The slope was part of a ridge line that overlooked and paralleled the runway at HAF.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the wreckage at the accident scene. The first identified point of contact (FIPOC) was a pattern of broken and displaced brush and limbs about 35 feet in length. Paralleling the pattern was a narrow swath about 15 feet in length. A red colored lens assembly was found near the (FIPOC). The pattern and swath led uphill to the principle impact crater (PIC) which was about 5 feet in diameter. Multiple propeller blade fragments were found near the PIC. The main wreckage was found further uphill surrounded by undamaged trees and bushes about 10 feet in height. Thermal damage was contained only to the main wreckage and was not found in the debris path.
An automated surface weather observation at HAF, (elevation 66 feet msl, about 1/4 mile west of the accident site). It indicated wind from 360 degrees at 6 knots, 3/4 miles visibility, mist, with an overcast ceiling at 300 feet, temperature at 13 degrees C, dew point 13 degrees C, and an altimeter setting at 30.08 inches of mercury.
HALF MOON BAY -- Authorities on Thursday confirmed the remains found among the charred wreckage of a small plane belong to a Florida man missing since he took off from Half Moon Bay airport Monday.
Andrew Charles Hayden, 75, of Punta Gorda, Fla. was identified through dental records because his remains were badly damaged by fire, San Mateo County Coroner Robert Foucrault said. The burnt frame of Hayden's plane was found Tuesday about a mile north of Pillar Point Harbor and less than a mile west of the airport in a broad dip on a coastal bluff.
Authorities have not said what may have caused the single engine Aeropro CZ A240 to go down. But the wreckage's position at the crash site appears to indicate it might have been headed back toward the airport. The crash remains under investigation by Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board authorities, officials said.
Hayden took off around 5:50 a.m. Monday and when he didn't arrive at his destination -- Marana Regional Airport near Tucson, Ariz. -- his wife reported him missing. Efforts to reach Hayden's family have been unsuccessful.
Foucrault said Hayden's cause of death is undetermined because there was not enough left of his body to perform a full examination.
Hayden's plane was discovered by a San Mateo County park ranger who was part of the search effort launched after the pilot's disappearance. The Coast Guard carried out air and sea searches.
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: N72AH Make/Model: A240 Description: AEROPRO CZ
Date: 10/15/2012 Time: 1230
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
City: HALF MOON BAY State: CA Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TERRAIN UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 1
# Crew: 1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Unknown Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: OAKLAND, CA (WP27) Entry date: 10/17/2012
http://registry.faa.gov/N72AH
HALF MOON BAY -- Authorities have found what they believe may be the single engine plane that disappeared early Monday en route to Arizona.
San Mateo County rangers reported finding the aircraft around 11:45 a.m. near on the beach near the intersection of Ocean Boulevard and Bernal Avenue, a short distance from Half Moon Bay airport, Sheriff's Detective Rebecca Rosenblatt said.
The search by air and water had continued Tuesday morning for the plane that left Half Moon Bay a day earlier but never showed up to its destination in Arizona.
The Coast Guard dispatched two vessels, a 47-foot motor lifeboat and a patrol cutter, which have combed the waters west of Half Moon Bay since Monday night. The agency also briefly sent out a helicopter and had plans to launch a fixed-wing aircraft but those efforts have been hampered by weather conditions.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the Civil Air Patrol and local law enforcement also conducted search operations in the area.
The Aeropro CZ A240 left around 5:50 a.m., and the pilot's wife said he intended to make a fuel stop in Apple Valley, according to the FAA. The woman reported the aircraft as overdue when it failed to arrive on schedule at Marana Regional Airport in Tucson, Ariz.
The FAA said airport officials in Half Moon Bay and Marana searched for the airplane at both facilities but did not locate it.
The Aeropro is considered a "light sport aircraft," with folding wings and two seats. The aircraft's tail number is N72AH, and is registered to Andrew Hayden of Punta Gorda, Florida.
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