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Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board: http://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
NTSB Identification: CEN14LA243
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, May 10, 2014 in Attica, IN
Probable Cause Approval Date: 03/02/2016
Aircraft: HOFFIUS STOWE CHALLENGER II, registration: N824SH
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
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 private pilot was conducting a personal flight in the amateur-built light sport airplane. The airplane was maneuvering at low altitude before it descended and then impacted the ground. Examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions.
The forward fuselage and right wing were crushed, consistent with a nose-low, right-wing-low impact. The airplane's attitude at impact was consistent with a steep descending right turn that would occur after a stall. Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot did not maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering at a low altitude and exceeded the airplane’s critical angle-of-attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
The airspeed indicator was marked for airspeeds from 40 to 340 mph, but the airplane's stall speed was 32 mph, and its maximum speed was 105 mph. The large discrepancy between the airplane's performance capability and the airspeed indicator markings made the airspeed indicator inappropriate for installation in the accident airplane and would not have provided the pilot airspeed information as he neared the stall speed. The lack of appropriate airspeed information due to the inappropriate airspeed indicator likely contributed to the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and prevent the stall.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle-of-attack while maneuvering at low altitude, which led to an aerodynamic stall and loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the installation of an inappropriate airspeed indicator that did not provide airspeed indications near the airplane’s stall speed.
HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On May 10, 2014, about 1342 eastern daylight time, an amateur-built Challenger II airplane, N824SH, impacted the ground following a loss of control near Attica, Indiana. The pilot was fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed. 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. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The flight originated from a private airstrip near Covington, Indiana at an unconfirmed time.
It was reported that the airplane was maneuvering at low altitude prior to the accident. The airplane then descended and impacted the ground.
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
The pilot, age 72, held a private pilot certificate with a single-engine land airplane rating. His most recent medical examination was on November 23, 1992. At the time of that examination, the pilot reported having 235 hours total flight time.
The accident airplane met the definition of a "Light Sport Airplane", and as such did not require the pilot to hold a valid medical certificate. Regulations permitted the pilot 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".
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
The accident airplane was an amateur-built airplane constructed from a kit. The airplane was a high-wing monoplane with tricycle landing gear. It could seat two occupants in a tandem seating arrangement and was constructed primarily of aluminum with a fabric covering. The airplane was powered by a Hirth model 2703 engine. The engine was a 2-cylinder 2-cycle engine rated to produce 55 horsepower. According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the pilot was not the original builder of the airplane and had purchased the airplane in 1992.
METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION
At 1254, the recorded weather conditions at the Purdue University Airport, Lafayette, Indiana, about 15 miles northeast of the accident site were: Wind variable at 3 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; clear skies; temperature 21 degrees Celsius; dew point 5 degrees Celsius; Altimeter setting 29.96 inches of mercury.
WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION
The aft fuselage and tail surfaces of the airplane remained intact. The forward fuselage was crushed and the tip of the right wing also had crush damage. The left wing was intact and remained attached to the fuselage. The damage to the right wing and fuselage were consistent with a right wing low, nose low impact. Postaccident examination of the airplane confirmed flight control system continuity from the cockpit to all control surfaces. The airplane's engine could not be rotated by hand. A subsequent teardown examination of the engine confirmed that impact damage had prevented the engine from rotating. No preimpact anomalies were detected in regard to the engine examination. The airplane had several electronic engine instruments installed; however, the instrument manufacturer confirmed that the units installed had no recording capability. No pre-impact anomalies were discovered during examination of the airplane.
Investigators noted that the airspeed indicator installed in the amateur-built airplane was marked for speeds from 40 to 340 miles per hour. According to the airworthiness documentation, the airplane had a stall speed of 32 miles per hour, and a maximum speed of 105 miles per hour.
MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION
An autopsy of the pilot listed the cause of death as spinal cord disruption due to the accident.
Toxicology testing was performed by the FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute. Testing results were negative for all substances in the screening profile.
NTSB Identification: CEN14LA243
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, May 10, 2014 in Attica, IN
Aircraft: HOFFIUS STOWE CHALLENGER II, registration: N824SH
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 may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On May 10, 2014, about 1342 eastern daylight time, an amateur-built Challenger II airplane, N824SH, was destroyed when it impacted the ground following an apparent loss of control near Attica, Indiana. The pilot was fatally injured. 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. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The flight originated from a private airstrip near Covington, Indiana at an unconfirmed time.
ATTICA - One person is dead after the experimental aircraft he was piloting fell out of the sky and crashed into a yard 3 miles south of Attica.
Charles H. Coffing, 72, of Covington was flying the aircraft he owned Saturday afternoon when for an unknown reason it nose-dived into the ground near Rob Roy's covered bridge.
Coffing was pronounced dead at the scene by the Fountain County Coroner's Office.
About 1:30 p.m., Attica dispatchers received a 911 call notifying them of the crash in a yard off East Covered Bridge Road.
Responding to the scene were Indiana State Police, Attica police and fire departments, the Fountain County Sheriff's Office and Fountain County EMS.
Coffing's family was notified Saturday afternoon.
Indiana State Police Trooper Sean Swaim said his agency contacted the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, which dispatched a crew to the scene. Those agencies are tasked with investigating civil aviation-related accidents.
"The priority was to find if we had any injuries," Swaim said. "Once we figured out it was a deceased person, our rules kind of changed. I started contacting my dispatch to get a hold of the FAA since this is an aircraft.
"We're not really set to deal with aircraft on our side. Right now (our goal) is to just maintain scene security until they arrive."
According to FAA records, the aircraft was a fixed-wing, single-engine experimental aircraft. The plane, which was categorized as "amateur built," was registered to Coffing out of Covington.
Upon notification of a plane crash, the NTSB activates its Go Team — a group of anywhere from three to 12 specialists from the board's Washington, D.C., headquarters.
The team will be tasked with combing through all aspects of the crash as it seeks to determine the cause. That includes investigating the aircraft and its pilot's history, documenting the wreckage site and evaluating weather and other possible factors.
The investigation process typically lasts several months.
http://www.jconline.com
Jarid Larson, left., of Attica Police Department, and Trooper Sean Swaim of Indiana State Police prepare to photograph the scene after a plane crash Saturday, May 10, 2014, off East Covered Bridge Road about three miles south of Attica. According to Trooper Swaim, an ultralight experimental plane crashed around 1:30 in the area known as Rob Roy. The pilot of the plane, Charles Coffing, 72, of Covington, was killed in the accident.
Attica Fire Department firefighters respond after a plane crash Saturday, May 10, 2014, off East Covered Bridge Road about three miles south of Attica.
Attica Fire Department firefighters respond after a plane crash
Saturday, May 10, 2014, off East Covered Bridge Road about three miles
south of Attica.
Police investigate following a plane crash Saturday, May 10, 2014, off
East Covered Bridge Road about three miles south of Attica. According to
Trooper Sean Swaim of Indiana State Police, an ultralight experimental
plane crashed around 1:30 in the area known as Rob Roy. The pilot of
the plane, Charles Coffing, 72, of Covington, was killed in the accident
Residents walk back to their homes after a plane crash Saturday, May 10, 2014, off East Covered Bridge Road about three miles south of Attica.
One person is dead after the aircraft he was piloting fell out of the sky and crashed into a yard three miles south of Attica.
Charles Coffing, 72, of Covington, was flying the aircraft Saturday afternoon when for an unknown reasons it nose dived into the ground.
Coffing was pronounced dead at the scene by the Fountain County Coroner's Office.
At approximately 1:30 p.m., Attica dispatchers received a 911 call notifying them of the crash in a yard off East Covered Bridge Road.
Responding were Indiana State Police, Attica Police and Fire departments, Fountain County Sheriff's Department and Fountain County EMS.
Coffing's family was notified of the death Saturday afternoon.
Indiana State Police Trooper Sean Swaim said his agency contacted the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration who dispatch an investigation crew to the scene. Those agencies are tasked with investigating all aviation related accidents, a process which usually takes at least several months.
"The priority was to find if we had any injuries," Swaim said. "One we figured out it was a deceased person our rules kind of changed. I started contacting my dispatch to get ahold of the FAA since this is an aircraft.
"We're not really set to deal with aircraft on our side. Right now (our goal) is to just maintain scene security until they arrive."
According to FAA records, the aircraft was a fixed wing single-engine experimental aircraft. The plane, which was categorized as "amateur built," was registered to Coffing out of Covington.
Source: http://www.indystar.com
Indiana State Police
Lafayette District 14
Lafayette, IN
Fountain County-
Today at approximately 1:30 p.m, Indiana Stare Police along with the Fountain County Sheriff’s Department were advised of an airplane crash on Covered Bridge Road about three miles south of Attica, IN.
Preliminary information by Trooper Sean Swaim has revealed that what appears to be an ultralight aircraft has crashed near the Rob Roy Covered Bridge. It has claimed the life of Charles H. Coffing, 72 from Covington, IN. Coffing was flying the aircraft when for an unknown reason, the plane nosed dived into the ground. Coffing was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Fountain County Coroner’s Office. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have been notified and are en route to the scene. All other information will be forth coming from their spokesperson.
Assisting at the scene was the Attica Police Department, Attica Fire Department, Fountain County EMS, Fountain County Sheriff’s Department and the Fountain County Coroner’s Office.
ATTICA, Ind. - A Covington man was killed Saturday when the ultralight plane he was piloting crashed three miles south of Attica.
Indiana State Police say Charles H. Coffing, 72, of Covington, Ind., was flying the aircraft around 1:30 p.m. Saturday when, for an unknown reason, the plane nose-dived into the ground.
Coffing was pronounced dead at the scene by the Fountain County Coroner's Office.
It happened around 1:30 p.m. Saturday near East Covered Bridge Road in Fountain County.
Police said the unidentified man was flying a single seat ultralight plane, when it crashed into a residential yard next to the Rob Roy Bridge.
Indiana State Police, Attica Police and Fire Departments, Fountain County EMS, and the Fountain County Coroner were all called to the scene.
Police are waiting on the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board to arrive at the scene.
FOUNTAIN COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) – An ultralight plane crashed in Fountain County Saturday afternoon, Indiana State Police confirm.
ISP said around 2:30 p.m. that officers with their department and the Fountain County Sheriff’s Department were on the scene of the crash.
It happened on Covered Bridge Road, about three miles south of Attica.
No other information was released.
