Amateur-Built Experimental Aircraft Destroyed in Uncontrolled Descent (N3KV)

Accident Overview and Fatal Outcome An amateur-built experimental airplane was destroyed on impact with terrain during an uncontrolled descent. The pilot was fatally injured. The accident was initially reported to the local Automated Flight Service Station as an ultralight accident. ## Witness and Official Accounts A witness stated that he watched the airplane fly around for about a half hour. He said the airplane was climbing and descending like a crop duster. He said that he heard the engine shut down. He said that he saw the airplane almost stand there, hung for a second or two, and nosed down. The airplane corkscrewed to the left about three quarters of a turn. He said the airplane did not go directly down and did not glide out of the descent. When the airplane descended below a hill he heard two pops like a shotgun. ## Sheriff's Report and Site Conditions The Sheriff's report stated, “It had started to fall from approximately 500 feet. I was advised that it appeared that the engine had stalled and that the aircraft began to spiral before hitting the ground. The first witness on the scene advised that the engine had been running when he arrived. The parachute on the aircraft had been deployed. It appeared that the aircraft had hit the ground nose first.” Photographs of the accident site showed level terrain available for a forced landing.